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Moreno-Verdú M, Hamoline G, Van Caenegem EE, Waltzing BM, Forest S, Valappil AC, Khan AH, Chye S, Esselaar M, Campbell MJ, McAllister CJ, Kraeutner SN, Poliakoff E, Frank C, Eaves DL, Wakefield C, Boe SG, Holmes PS, Bruton AM, Vogt S, Wright DJ, Hardwick RM. Guidelines for reporting action simulation studies (GRASS): Proposals to improve reporting of research in motor imagery and action observation. Neuropsychologia 2024; 192:108733. [PMID: 37956956 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Researchers from multiple disciplines have studied the simulation of actions through motor imagery, action observation, or their combination. Procedures used in these studies vary considerably between research groups, and no standardized approach to reporting experimental protocols has been proposed. This has led to under-reporting of critical details, impairing the assessment, replication, synthesis, and potential clinical translation of effects. We provide an overview of issues related to the reporting of information in action simulation studies, and discuss the benefits of standardized reporting. We propose a series of checklists that identify key details of research protocols to include when reporting action simulation studies. Each checklist comprises A) essential methodological details, B) essential details that are relevant to a specific mode of action simulation, and C) further points that may be useful on a case-by-case basis. We anticipate that the use of these guidelines will improve the understanding, reproduction, and synthesis of studies using action simulation, and enhance the translation of research using motor imagery and action observation to applied and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Moreno-Verdú
- Brain, Action, And Skill Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience (Cognition and Systems Division), UC Louvain, Belgium; Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
| | - Gautier Hamoline
- Brain, Action, And Skill Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience (Cognition and Systems Division), UC Louvain, Belgium
| | - Elise E Van Caenegem
- Brain, Action, And Skill Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience (Cognition and Systems Division), UC Louvain, Belgium
| | - Baptiste M Waltzing
- Brain, Action, And Skill Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience (Cognition and Systems Division), UC Louvain, Belgium
| | - Sébastien Forest
- Brain, Action, And Skill Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience (Cognition and Systems Division), UC Louvain, Belgium
| | - Ashika C Valappil
- Simulating Movements to Improve Learning and Execution (SMILE) Research Group, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Roehampton, UK
| | - Adam H Khan
- Simulating Movements to Improve Learning and Execution (SMILE) Research Group, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Roehampton, UK
| | - Samantha Chye
- Simulating Movements to Improve Learning and Execution (SMILE) Research Group, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Roehampton, UK
| | - Maaike Esselaar
- Research Centre for Musculoskeletal Science and Sports Medicine, Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
| | - Mark J Campbell
- Lero Esports Science Research Lab, Physical Education & Sport Sciences Department & Lero the Science Foundation Ireland Centre for Software Research, University of Limerick, Ireland
| | - Craig J McAllister
- Centre for Human Brain Health, School of Sport Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Sarah N Kraeutner
- Neuroplasticity, Imagery, And Motor Behaviour Laboratory, Department of Psychology & Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Okanagan, Canada
| | - Ellen Poliakoff
- Body Eyes and Movement (BEAM) Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Cornelia Frank
- Cognition, Imagery and Learning in Action Laboratory, Department of Sports and Movement Science, School of Educational and Cultural Studies, Osnabrueck University, Germany
| | - Daniel L Eaves
- Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | | | - Shaun G Boe
- Laboratory for Brain Recovery and Function, School of Physiotherapy and Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Canada
| | - Paul S Holmes
- Research Centre for Health, Psychology and Communities, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
| | - Adam M Bruton
- Simulating Movements to Improve Learning and Execution (SMILE) Research Group, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Roehampton, UK; : Centre for Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, UK
| | - Stefan Vogt
- Perception and Action Group, Department of Psychology, Lancaster University, UK
| | - David J Wright
- Research Centre for Health, Psychology and Communities, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Education, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
| | - Robert M Hardwick
- Brain, Action, And Skill Laboratory, Institute of Neuroscience (Cognition and Systems Division), UC Louvain, Belgium.
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Guidali G, Picardi M, Franca M, Caronni A, Bolognini N. The social relevance and the temporal constraints of motor resonance in humans. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15933. [PMID: 37741884 PMCID: PMC10517949 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43227-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans, motor resonance effects can be tracked by measuring the enhancement of corticospinal excitability by action observation. Uncovering factors driving motor resonance is crucial for optimizing action observation paradigms in experimental and clinical settings. In the present study, we deepen motor resonance properties for grasping movements. Thirty-five healthy subjects underwent an action observation task presenting right-hand grasping movements differing from their action goal. Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation was applied over the left primary motor cortex at 100, 200, or 300 ms from the onset of the visual stimulus depicting the action. Motor-evoked potentials were recorded from four muscles of the right hand and forearm. Results show a muscle-specific motor resonance effect at 200 ms after movement but selectively for observing a socially relevant grasp towards another human being. This effect correlates with observers' emotional empathy scores, and it was followed by inhibition of motor resonance at 300 ms post-stimulus onset. No motor resonance facilitation emerged while observing intransitive hand movement or object grasping. This evidence highlights the social side of motor resonance and its dependency on temporal factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Guidali
- Department of Psychology & NeuroMI-Milan Centre for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
| | - Michela Picardi
- Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, Casa di cura Igea, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Franca
- Department of Psychology & NeuroMI-Milan Centre for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
- Ph.D. Program in Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Antonio Caronni
- Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Ospedale San Luca, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Nadia Bolognini
- Department of Psychology & NeuroMI-Milan Centre for Neuroscience, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126, Milan, Italy.
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, Department of Neurorehabilitation Sciences, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
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3
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Nuara A, Bazzini MC, Cardellicchio P, Scalona E, De Marco D, Rizzolatti G, Fabbri-Destro M, Avanzini P. The value of corticospinal excitability and intracortical inhibition in predicting motor skill improvement driven by action observation. Neuroimage 2023; 266:119825. [PMID: 36543266 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The observation of other's actions represents an essential element for the acquisition of motor skills. While action observation is known to induce changes in the excitability of the motor cortices, whether such modulations may explain the amount of motor improvement driven by action observation training (AOT) remains to be addressed. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), we first assessed in 41 volunteers the effect of action observation on corticospinal excitability, intracortical inhibition, and transcallosal inhibition. Subsequently, half of the participants (AOT-group) were asked to observe and then execute a right-hand dexterity task, while the controls had to observe a no-action video before practicing the same task. AOT participants showed greater performance improvement relative to controls. More importantly, the amount of improvement in the AOT group was predicted by the amplitude of corticospinal modulation during action observation and, even more, by the amount of intracortical inhibition induced by action observation. These relations were specific for the AOT group, while the same patterns were not found in controls. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that the efficacy of AOT in promoting motor learning is rooted in the capacity of action observation to modulate the trainee's motor system excitability, especially its intracortical inhibition. Our study not only enriches the picture of the neurophysiological effects induced by action observation onto the observer's motor excitability, but linking them to the efficacy of AOT, it also paves the way for the development of models predicting the outcome of training procedures based on the observation of other's actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Nuara
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via Volturno 39/E, Parma 43125, Italy.
| | | | - Pasquale Cardellicchio
- IIT@UniFe Center for Translational Neurophysiology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Emilia Scalona
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via Volturno 39/E, Parma 43125, Italy; Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche, Scienze Radiologiche e Sanità Pubblica (DSMC), Università degli studi di Brescia, Italia
| | - Doriana De Marco
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via Volturno 39/E, Parma 43125, Italy
| | | | | | - Pietro Avanzini
- CNR Neuroscience Institute, via Volturno 39/E, Parma 43125, Italy; Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Milan, Rozzano, Italy
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Ito T, Tsubahara A, Shiraga Y, Yoshimura Y, Kimura D, Suzuki K, Hanayama K. Motor activation is modulated by visual experience during cyclic gait observation: A transcranial magnetic stimulation study. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228389. [PMID: 31990939 PMCID: PMC6986743 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been widely utilized to noninvasively explore the motor system during the observation of human movement. However, few studies have characterized motor cortex activity during periodic gait observation. Thus, this study examined the effects of an observer's visual experience and/or intention to imitate on corticospinal excitability during the observation of another's gait. Twenty-six healthy volunteers were included in this study and allocated to two different groups. Participants in the visual experience group had formal experience with gait observation (physical therapist training), while those in the control group did not. Motor-evoked potentials induced by TMS in the tibialis anterior and soleus muscles were measured as surrogates of corticospinal excitability. Participants were seated and, while resting, they observed a demonstrator's gait or observed it with the intention to subsequently reproduce it. Compared with the resting state, cyclic gait observation led to significant corticospinal facilitation in the tibialis anterior and soleus muscles. However, this pattern of corticospinal facilitation in the measured muscles was not coupled to the pattern of crural muscle activity during actual gait and was independent of the step cycle. This motor cortex facilitation effect during gait observation was enhanced by the observer's visual experience in a manner that was not step cycle-dependent, while the observer's intent to imitate did not affect corticospinal excitatory input to either muscle. In addition, visual experience did not modulate corticospinal excitability in gait-related crural muscles. Our findings indicate that motor cortex activity during gait observation is not in line with the timing of muscle activity during gait execution and is modulated by an individual's gait observation experience. These results suggest that visual experience acquired from repetitive gait observation may facilitate the motor system's control on bipedal walking, but may not promote the learning of muscle activity patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomotaka Ito
- Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Akio Tsubahara
- Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Shiraga
- Rehabilitation Center, Kawasaki Medical School Hospital, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yosuke Yoshimura
- Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kimura
- Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
| | - Keita Suzuki
- Department of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Kozo Hanayama
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
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Gianelli C, Kühne K, Lo Presti S, Mencaraglia S, Dalla Volta R. Action processing in the motor system: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) evidence of shared mechanisms in the visual and linguistic modalities. Brain Cogn 2020; 139:105510. [PMID: 31923805 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2019.105510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In two experiments, we compared the dynamics of corticospinal excitability when processing visually or linguistically presented tool-oriented hand actions in native speakers and sequential bilinguals. In a third experiment we used the same procedure to test non-motor, low-level stimuli, i.e. scrambled images and pseudo-words. Stimuli were presented in sequence: pictures (tool + tool-oriented hand action or their scrambled counterpart) and words (tool noun + tool-action verb or pseudo-words). Experiment 1 presented German linguistic stimuli to native speakers, while Experiment 2 presented English stimuli to non-natives. Experiment 3 tested Italian native speakers. Single-pulse trascranial magnetic stimulation (spTMS) was applied to the left motor cortex at five different timings: baseline, 200 ms after tool/noun onset, 150, 350 and 500 ms after hand/verb onset with motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) recorded from the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscles. We report strong similarities in the dynamics of corticospinal excitability across the visual and linguistic modalities. MEPs' suppression started as early as 150 ms and lasted for the duration of stimulus presentation (500 ms). Moreover, we show that this modulation is absent for stimuli with no motor content. Overall, our study supports the notion of a core, overarching system of action semantics shared by different modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Gianelli
- Division of Cognitive Sciences, University of Potsdam, Germany; IUSS, University School of Advanced Studies, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Katharina Kühne
- Division of Cognitive Sciences, University of Potsdam, Germany
| | - Sara Lo Presti
- IUSS, University School of Advanced Studies, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Dalla Volta
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Università Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy.
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Dynamic task observation: A gaze-mediated complement to traditional action observation treatment? Behav Brain Res 2019; 379:112351. [PMID: 31726070 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Action observation elicits changes in primary motor cortex known as motor resonance, a phenomenon thought to underpin several functions, including our ability to understand and imitate others' actions. Motor resonance is modulated not only by the observer's motor expertise, but also their gaze behaviour. The aim of the present study was to investigate motor resonance and eye movements during observation of a dynamic goal-directed action, relative to an everyday one - a reach-grasp-lift (RGL) action, commonly used in action-observation-based neurorehabilitation protocols. Skilled and novice golfers watched videos of a golf swing and an RGL action as we recorded MEPs from three forearm muscles; gaze behaviour was concurrently monitored. Corticospinal excitability increased during golf swing observation, but it was not modulated by expertise, relative to baseline; no such changes were observed for the RGL task. MEP amplitudes were related to participants' gaze behaviour: in the RGL condition, target viewing was associated with lower MEP amplitudes; in the golf condition, MEP amplitudes were positively correlated with time spent looking at the effector or neighbouring regions. Viewing of a dynamic action such as the golf swing may enhance action observation treatment, especially when concurrent physical practice is not possible.
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7
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Betti S, Castiello U, Guerra S, Granziol U, Zani G, Sartori L. Gaze and body cues interplay during interactive requests. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223591. [PMID: 31634344 PMCID: PMC6802846 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Although observing other's gaze and body movements provides a crucial source of information to successfully interact with other people, it remains unclear whether observers weigh differently these cues and whether the convergence of gaze and body's directions determines facilitation effects. Here we aim to shed more light on this issue by testing the reliance upon these cues from both a behavioral and a neurophysiological perspective in a social interactive context. In Experiment 1, we manipulated the convergence between the direction of an actor's upper limb movement and gaze direction while he attempts to socially interact with the participants observing the scene. We determined the direction of gaze as well as the duration of participants' ocular fixations during the observation of the scene. In Experiment 2, we measured and correlated the effect of the body/gaze manipulation on corticospinal excitability and on the readiness to interact-a disposition to engage in social situations. Eye-tracking data revealed that participants fixated chiefly the actor's head when his hand and gaze directions were divergent. Possibly a strategy to disambiguate the scene. Whereas participants mainly fixated the actor's hand when he performed an interactive request toward the participants. From a neurophysiological point of view, the more participants felt involved in the interaction, the lower was motor preparation in the muscle potentially needed to fulfill the actor's request. We contend that social contexts are more likely to elicit motor preparation compared to non-social ones, and that muscular inhibition is a necessary mechanism in order to prevent unwanted overt reactions during action observation tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Betti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Silvia Guerra
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Umberto Granziol
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Giovanni Zani
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Luisa Sartori
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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Cretu AL, Ruddy K, Germann M, Wenderoth N. Uncertainty in contextual and kinematic cues jointly modulates motor resonance in primary motor cortex. J Neurophysiol 2019; 121:1451-1464. [PMID: 30811258 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00655.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Contextual information accompanying others' actions modulates "motor resonance", i.e., neural activity within motor areas that is elicited by movement observation. One possibility is that we weigh and combine such information in a Bayesian manner according to their relative uncertainty. Therefore, contextual information becomes particularly useful when others' actions are difficult to discriminate. It is unclear, however, whether this uncertainty modulates the neural activity in primary motor cortex (M1) during movement observation. Here, we applied single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) while subjects watched different grasping actions. We operationalized motor resonance as grip-specific modulation of corticomotor excitability measured in the index (FDI) versus the little finger abductor (ADM). We experimentally modulated either the availability of kinematic information ( experiment 1) or the reliability of contextual cues ( experiment 2). Our results indicate that even in the absence of movement kinematics, reliable contextual information is enough to trigger significant muscle-specific corticomotor excitability changes in M1, which are strongest when both kinematics and contextual information are available. These findings suggest that bottom-up mechanisms that activate motor representations as a function of the observed kinematics and top-down mechanisms that activate motor representations associated with arbitrary cues converge in M1. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our study reveals new neurophysiological insights in support of the Bayesian account of action observation by showing that "motor resonance", i.e., neural activity evoked by observing others' actions, incorporates the uncertainty related to both contextual (prior beliefs) and kinematic (sensory evidence) cues. Notably, we show that muscle-specific modulation of M1 is strongest when context and movement kinematics are available, and it can be elicited even in the absence of movement kinematics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreea Loredana Cretu
- Neural Control of Movement Group, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Kathy Ruddy
- Neural Control of Movement Group, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich , Switzerland.,Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin , Dublin , Ireland
| | - Maria Germann
- Neural Control of Movement Group, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Nicole Wenderoth
- Neural Control of Movement Group, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Zurich , Switzerland
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Alsamour M, Gilliaux M, Renders A, Lejeune T, Stoquart G, Edwards MG. Does observation of a disabled child's action moderate action execution? Implication for the use of Action Observation Therapy for patient rehabilitation. Cortex 2018; 107:102-109. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2017.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Revised: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Huntley MK, Muller S, Vallence AM. Corticospinal excitability is modulated by distinct movement patterns during action observation. Exp Brain Res 2018; 236:1067-1075. [PMID: 29435605 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-018-5199-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that excitability of the primary motor cortex increases during action observation. However, the modulation of motor cortex excitability during observation of different actions, with distinct movement patterns, is not fully understood. The aim of the current study was to examine time-dependent changes in corticospinal excitability during observation of two actions with different levels of complexity. We developed videos of two distinct actions (a point and a reach-and-grasp), that were matched in video length, action onset, and onset of kinematics. Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to investigate time-dependent changes in primary motor cortex excitability during observation of the two actions. Motor evoked potentials (MEP) were recorded from two intrinsic hand muscles, namely first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and abductor digiti minimi. Results showed no difference in MEP amplitude during observation of a static hand compared to observation of the actions. When comparing the point to the grasp action, there were two key findings showing time-dependent changes in motor cortex excitability: first, greater MEP amplitude in FDI during observation of the point than the grasp action at an early time-point (index finger extension) and second, greater MEP amplitude in FDI during observation of the grasp than the point action at a later time-point (hand opening to form a grasp). These results show that excitability of the primary motor cortex is differentially modulated during observation of a point and grasp action, suggesting that the action observation network is engaged in a time-dependent manner during action observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M K Huntley
- School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - S Muller
- School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Ann-Maree Vallence
- School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
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11
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Reader AT, Holmes NP. Examining ecological validity in social interaction: problems of visual fidelity, gaze, and social potential. CULTURE AND BRAIN 2016; 4:134-146. [PMID: 27867831 PMCID: PMC5095160 DOI: 10.1007/s40167-016-0041-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Social interaction is an essential part of the human experience, and much work has been done to study it. However, several common approaches to examining social interactions in psychological research may inadvertently either unnaturally constrain the observed behaviour by causing it to deviate from naturalistic performance, or introduce unwanted sources of variance. In particular, these sources are the differences between naturalistic and experimental behaviour that occur from changes in visual fidelity (quality of the observed stimuli), gaze (whether it is controlled for in the stimuli), and social potential (potential for the stimuli to provide actual interaction). We expand on these possible sources of extraneous variance and why they may be important. We review the ways in which experimenters have developed novel designs to remove these sources of extraneous variance. New experimental designs using a 'two-person' approach are argued to be one of the most effective ways to develop more ecologically valid measures of social interaction, and we suggest that future work on social interaction should use these designs wherever possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arran T. Reader
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights Road, Reading, RG6 6AL UK
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Hétu S, Taschereau-Dumouchel V, Meziane HB, Jackson PL, Mercier C. Behavioral and TMS Markers of Action Observation Might Reflect Distinct Neuronal Processes. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:458. [PMID: 27683548 PMCID: PMC5021688 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) studies have shown that observing an action induces muscle-specific changes in corticospinal excitability. From a signal detection theory standpoint, this pattern can be related to sensitivity, which here would measure the capacity to distinguish between two action observation conditions. In parallel to these TMS studies, action observation has also been linked to behavioral effects such as motor priming and interference. It has been hypothesized that behavioral markers of action observation could be related to TMS markers and thus represent a potentially cost-effective mean of assessing the functioning of the action-perception system. However, very few studies have looked at possible relationships between these two measures. The aim of this study was to investigate if individual differences in sensitivity to action observation could be related to the behavioral motor priming and interference effects produced by action observation. To this end, 14 healthy participants observed index and little finger movements during a TMS task and a stimulus-response compatibility task. Index muscle displayed sensitivity to action observation, and action observation resulted in significant motor priming+interference, while no significant effect was observed for the little finger in both task. Nevertheless, our results indicate that the sensitivity measured in TMS was not related to the behavioral changes measured in the stimulus-response compatibility task. Contrary to a widespread assumption, the current results indicate that individual differences in physiological and behavioral markers of action observation may be unrelated. This could have important impacts on the potential use of behavioral markers in place of more costly physiological markers of action observation in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Hétu
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Réadaptation et Intégration Sociale, Québec, QCCanada
- Human Neuroimaging Laboratory, Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, VAUSA
| | - Vincent Taschereau-Dumouchel
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Réadaptation et Intégration Sociale, Québec, QCCanada
- Psychology Department, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CAUSA
| | - Hadj Boumediene Meziane
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Réadaptation et Intégration Sociale, Québec, QCCanada
- Institut de psychologie, Université de Lausanne, LausanneSwitzerland
| | - Philip L. Jackson
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Réadaptation et Intégration Sociale, Québec, QCCanada
- Département de Psychologie, Université Laval, Québec, QCCanada
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec, Québec, QCCanada
| | - Catherine Mercier
- Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherche en Réadaptation et Intégration Sociale, Québec, QCCanada
- Département de Réadaptation, Université Laval, Québec, QCCanada
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Wright DJ, McCormick SA, Williams J, Holmes PS. Viewing Instructions Accompanying Action Observation Modulate Corticospinal Excitability. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:17. [PMID: 26869901 PMCID: PMC4740958 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Action observation interventions may have the potential to contribute to improved motor function in motor (re)learning settings by promoting functional activity and plasticity in the motor regions of the brain. Optimal methods for delivering such interventions, however, have yet to be established. This experiment investigated the effect on corticospinal excitability of manipulating the viewing instructions provided to participants (N = 21) prior to action observation. Specifically, motor evoked potential responses measured from the right hand muscles following single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the left motor cortex were compared when participants were instructed to observe finger-thumb opposition movement sequences: (i) passively; (ii) with the intent to imitate the observed movement; or (iii) whilst simultaneously and actively imagining that they were performing the movement as they observed it. All three action observation viewing instructions facilitated corticospinal excitability to a greater extent than did observation of a static hand. In addition, the extent to which corticospinal excitability was facilitated was greater during combined observation and imagery, compared to passive observation. These findings have important implications for the design of action observation interventions in motor (re)learning settings, where instructions that encourage observers to simultaneously imagine themselves performing the observed movement may offer the current optimal method for improving motor function through action observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Wright
- Centre for Health, Exercise and Active Living, Manchester Metropolitan University UK
| | - Sheree A McCormick
- Centre for Health, Exercise and Active Living, Manchester Metropolitan University UK
| | - Jacqueline Williams
- Centre for Health, Exercise and Active Living, Manchester Metropolitan UniversityUK; College of Sport and Exercise Science, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria UniversityMelbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul S Holmes
- Centre for Health, Exercise and Active Living, Manchester Metropolitan UniversityUK; College of Sport and Exercise Science, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria UniversityMelbourne, VIC, Australia
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Naish KR, Houston-Price C, Bremner AJ, Holmes NP. Effects of action observation on corticospinal excitability: Muscle specificity, direction, and timing of the mirror response. Neuropsychologia 2014; 64:331-48. [PMID: 25281883 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.09.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2014] [Revised: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R Naish
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AL, UK; Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AL, UK; Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4L8.
| | - Carmel Houston-Price
- University of Reading Malaysia, Menara Kotaraya, Level 7, Jalan Trus, Johor Bahru, Malaysia 80000.
| | - Andrew J Bremner
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW, UK.
| | - Nicholas P Holmes
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AL, UK; Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics, University of Reading, Earley Gate, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AL, UK.
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15
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Hardwick RM, Lesage E, Miall RC. Cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation: the role of coil geometry and tissue depth. Brain Stimul 2014; 7:643-9. [PMID: 24924734 PMCID: PMC4180011 DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2014.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2014] [Revised: 04/26/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coil geometry has important effects on the evoked magnetic field, no study has systematically examined how different coil designs affect the effectiveness of cerebellar stimulation. HYPOTHESIS The depth of the cerebellar targets will limit efficiency. Angled coils designed to stimulate deeper tissue are more effective in eliciting cerebellar stimulation. METHODS Experiment 1 examined basic input-output properties of the figure-of-eight, batwing and double-cone coils, assessed with stimulation of motor cortex. Experiment 2 assessed the ability of each coil to activate cerebellum, using cerebellar-brain inhibition (CBI). Experiment 3 mapped distances from the scalp to cerebellar and motor cortical targets in a sample of 100 subjects' structural magnetic resonance images. RESULTS Experiment 1 showed batwing and double-cone coils have significantly lower resting motor thresholds, and recruitment curves with steeper slopes than the figure-of-eight coil. Experiment 2 showed the double-cone coil was the most efficient for eliciting CBI. The batwing coil induced CBI only at higher stimulus intensities. The figure-of-eight coil did not elicit reliable CBI. Experiment 3 confirmed that cerebellar tissue is significantly deeper than primary motor cortex tissue, and we provide a map of scalp-to-target distances. CONCLUSIONS The double-cone and batwing coils designed to stimulate deeper tissue can effectively stimulate cerebellar targets. The double-cone coil was found to be most effective. The depth map provides a guide to the accessible regions of the cerebellar volume. These results can guide coil selection and stimulation parameters when designing cerebellar TMS studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Hardwick
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Behavioural Brain Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
| | - Elise Lesage
- Behavioural Brain Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - R Chris Miall
- Behavioural Brain Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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Huis in ‘t Veld EMJ, Van Boxtel GJM, de Gelder B. The Body Action Coding System I: Muscle activations during the perception and expression of emotion. Soc Neurosci 2014; 9:249-64. [DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2014.890668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Eaves DL, Haythornthwaite L, Vogt S. Motor imagery during action observation modulates automatic imitation effects in rhythmical actions. Front Hum Neurosci 2014; 8:28. [PMID: 24600369 PMCID: PMC3927126 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2014.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that passively observing a task-irrelevant rhythmical action can bias the cycle time of a subsequently executed rhythmical action. Here we use the same paradigm to investigate the impact of different forms of motor imagery (MI) during action observation (AO) on this automatic imitation (AI) effect. Participants saw a picture of the instructed action followed by a rhythmical distractor movie, wherein cycle time was subtly manipulated across trials. They then executed the instructed rhythmical action. When participants imagined performing the instructed action in synchrony with the distractor action (AO + MI), a strong imitation bias was found that was significantly greater than in our previous study. The bias was pronounced equally for compatible and incompatible trials, wherein observed and imagined actions were different in type (e.g., face washing vs. painting) or plane of movement, or both. In contrast, no imitation bias was observed when MI conflicted with AO. In Experiment 2, motor execution synchronized with AO produced a stronger imitation bias compared to AO + MI, showing an advantage in synchronization for overt execution over MI. Furthermore, the bias was stronger when participants synchronized the instructed action with the distractor movie, compared to when they synchronized the distractor action with the distractor movie. Although we still observed a significant bias in the latter condition, this finding indicates a degree of specificity in AI effects for the identity of the synchronized action. Overall, our data show that MI can substantially modulate the effects of AO on subsequent execution, wherein: (1) combined AO + MI can enhance AI effects relative to passive AO; (2) observed and imagined actions can be flexibly coordinated across different action types and planes; and (3) conflicting AO + MI can abolish AI effects. Therefore, combined AO + MI instructions should be considered in motor training and rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Eaves
- Sport and Exercise Science Section, School of Social Sciences and Law, Teesside University Middlesbrough, UK ; Department of Psychology, Fylde College, Lancaster University Lancaster, UK
| | | | - Stefan Vogt
- Department of Psychology, Fylde College, Lancaster University Lancaster, UK
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Enhanced activation of motor execution networks using action observation combined with imagination of lower limb movements. PLoS One 2013; 8:e72403. [PMID: 24015241 PMCID: PMC3756065 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Accepted: 07/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The combination of first-person observation and motor imagery, i.e. first-person observation of limbs with online motor imagination, is commonly used in interactive 3D computer gaming and in some movie scenes. These scenarios are designed to induce a cognitive process in which a subject imagines himself/herself acting as the agent in the displayed movement situation. Despite the ubiquity of this type of interaction and its therapeutic potential, its relationship to passive observation and imitation during observation has not been directly studied using an interactive paradigm. In the present study we show activation resulting from observation, coupled with online imagination and with online imitation of a goal-directed lower limb movement using functional MRI (fMRI) in a mixed block/event-related design. Healthy volunteers viewed a video (first-person perspective) of a foot kicking a ball. They were instructed to observe-only the action (O), observe and simultaneously imagine performing the action (O-MI), or imitate the action (O-IMIT). We found that when O-MI was compared to O, activation was enhanced in the ventralpremotor cortex bilaterally, left inferior parietal lobule and left insula. The O-MI and O-IMIT conditions shared many activation foci in motor relevant areas as confirmed by conjunction analysis. These results show that (i) combining observation with motor imagery (O-MI) enhances activation compared to observation-only (O) in the relevant foot motor network and in regions responsible for attention, for control of goal-directed movements and for the awareness of causing an action, and (ii) it is possible to extensively activate the motor execution network using O-MI, even in the absence of overt movement. Our results may have implications for the development of novel virtual reality interactions for neurorehabilitation interventions and other applications involving training of motor tasks.
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Lago-Rodriguez A, Lopez-Alonso V, Fernández-del-Olmo M. Mirror neuron system and observational learning: Behavioral and neurophysiological evidence. Behav Brain Res 2013; 248:104-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2013] [Revised: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 03/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Jola C, Grosbras MH. In the here and now: Enhanced motor corticospinal excitability in novices when watching live compared to video recorded dance. Cogn Neurosci 2013; 4:90-8. [PMID: 24073734 DOI: 10.1080/17588928.2013.776035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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