Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marius Zimmermann, Arianna Schiano Lomoriello, Ivana Konvalinka
Summary: Being observed leads to more emphasized and predictable movements. At neural level, observed actions show increased mu suppression and widespread functional brain connectivity relative to individual and interactive actions.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Shohei Tsuchimoto, Shuka Shibusawa, Seitaro Iwama, Masaaki Hayashi, Kohei Okuyama, Nobuaki Mizuguchi, Kenji Kato, Junichi Ushiba
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of different EEG spatial filters for extracting sensorimotor activity, with results showing that the CAR and large-Laplacian spatial filters were the most effective at improving signal-to-noise ratios. This has the potential to enhance the efficacy of EEG-SMR-based interventions.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS
(2021)
Article
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Andrew Goldman, Colleen Thomas, Paul Sajda
Summary: This study examines the impact of practicing contact improvisation on EEG signals and brain activity, indicating that the practice of contact improvisation can significantly predict the performance of action simulation EEG signals with a stronger effect compared to performing fixed dance routines. Differences in posterior alpha waves during contact improvisation and performing fixed choreography suggest greater visual imagery engagement while improvising.
PSYCHOLOGY OF AESTHETICS CREATIVITY AND THE ARTS
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Kenta Tomyta, Natsuki Saito, Hideki Ohira
Summary: Leadership and followership play important roles in interpersonal communication and are crucial for cooperative and collaborative behaviors. This study investigated the physiological basis of these roles using electrocardiographic and electroencephalographic recordings. The results showed that heart rate synchronization was related to high alpha Pair, and the high-frequency component of heart rate variability was positively correlated with alpha Pair. EEG analyses also revealed differences in the activation and deactivation of the mirror neuron system based on alpha Self and alpha Pair.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
D. Zarka, A. M. Cebolla, G. Cheron
Summary: Mirror neurons are activated both during action observation and execution, and may serve as the neural basis for understanding others' actions. They combine sensory and motor information to provide motor simulation and contribute to the identification of action goals and interpretation of actor's intentions. Studying the connectivity and synchronization of mirror neurons in different brain areas involved in action observation can provide valuable insights into their dynamic contribution to action understanding.
ENCEPHALE-REVUE DE PSYCHIATRIE CLINIQUE BIOLOGIQUE ET THERAPEUTIQUE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Virginia C. Salo, Ranjan Debnath, Meredith L. Rowe, Nathan A. Fox
Summary: This study investigates the association between exposure to communicative gestures and infants' language development. The researchers found that increased exposure to parent gestures positively impacts infants' language development through changes in sensorimotor brain activity.
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Takashi Inamoto, Masaya Ueda, Keita Ueno, China Shiroma, Rin Morita, Yasuo Naito, Ryouhei Ishii
Summary: Mu rhythm, also known as the mu wave, is a cortical oscillation occurring on sensorimotor cortex activity at rest, with a frequency range of 8-13Hz that is the same as the alpha band. Previous studies have examined mu/beta rhythm in a wide range of subjects, including both healthy individuals and patients with various neurological and psychiatric diseases. However, there is limited research on the effect of mu/beta rhythm with aging and no literature review on this topic. It is important to review the characteristics of mu/beta rhythm activity in older adults compared to young adults, particularly age-related changes in mu rhythm. On comprehensive review, it was found that older adults exhibit changes in mu/beta activity during voluntary movement, including increased event-related desynchronization, earlier beginning and later end, symmetric pattern of ERD, increased recruitment of cortical areas, and substantially reduced beta event-related desynchronization. Additionally, mu/beta rhythm patterns of action observation were found to change with aging. Future research is needed to investigate the localization and network of mu/beta rhythm in older adults.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Laura Jelsone-Swain, Sara Anne McCommon, Brooke Turk, Alexandra Roach
Summary: Empathy may be dampened by acetaminophen, a common pain medication. This study used EEG and behavioral responses to investigate the effect of acetaminophen on pain empathy and mu power. The findings suggest that acetaminophen not only reduces physical pain but also changes the neural response to perceiving others in pain.
Article
Neurosciences
Caterina Piazza, Eleonora Visintin, Gianluigi Reni, Rosario Montirosso
Summary: Event-related mu-rhythm activity is commonly used to investigate socio-cognitive processes in pediatric populations. This study found that different types of baselines influenced toddler mu-ERD/ERS, with most subjects suppressing mu-rhythm activity and showing greater mu-ERD for one baseline. Recommendations included verifying mu-rhythm activity during baseline and caution in baseline selection and result interpretation in pediatric mu-rhythm studies.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Alessandro Botta, Mingqi Zhao, Jessica Samogin, Elisa Pelosin, Gaia Bonassi, Giovanna Lagravinese, Dante Mantini, Alessio Avenanti, Laura Avanzino
Summary: Using high-density electroencephalography (hd-EEG), this study found that the processing of fearful emotional body language (EBL) activates somatosensory areas early on and suppresses motor activity in healthy individuals. These findings provide high-temporal resolution evidence of the interplay between somatosensory and motor areas during the observation of EBL, shedding light on the sensorimotor mechanism supporting freezing behavior.
Article
Neurosciences
Satoshi Shibuya, Yukari Ohki
Summary: During the rubber hand illusion, participants perceive a fake hand as their own if the real hand and the fake hand are stroked synchronously and placed in the same position. Using EEG and mirror settings, researchers compared sensorimotor activation during the observation of embodied and non-embodied rubber hands. The results showed that there was a greater and more persistent sensorimotor activation during the movement of the embodied rubber hand, indicating ownership-dependent activation.
Article
Psychology, Biological
Dina Mitiureva, Pavel Bobrov, Anna Rebreikina, Olga Sysoeva
Summary: Studying mu-rhythm in developmental disorders is crucial for understanding motor and social mal-functioning. However, the commonly used experimental protocol is challenging for children with deficits. This study presents an inclusive procedure using passive hand movement and observation to examine the properties of EEG mu-rhythm in typically developing individuals. Results showed typical mu-rhythm suppression to movement and observation, with no interhemispheric differences, and increased suppression with age. The proposed protocol can be used for mu-rhythm research in challenging populations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Benjamin Aaronson, Annette Estes, Sally J. Rogers, Geraldine Dawson, Raphael Bernier
Summary: The study found that children who received ESDM intervention for two years showed significantly greater mu rhythm attenuation when observing a parent or caregiver performing a grasping action compared to observing an unfamiliar individual performing the same action. This suggests that ESDM may have a unique impact on neural circuitry related to social cognition and familiarity.
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Soukayna Bekkali, George J. Youssef, Peter H. Donaldson, Christian Hyde, Michael Do, Jason L. He, Pamela Barhoun, Peter G. Enticott
Summary: In a study involving a large sample, it was found that the relationship between interpersonal motor resonance and mu suppression is weaker than previously believed, suggesting that they may be unrelated indices.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Catriona L. Scrivener
Summary: EEG and fMRI provide non-invasive measures of brain activity, offering different perspectives on brain function. Simultaneous recording aims to maximize their strengths, but separate recording sessions may have greater statistical power for detecting effects.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neuroimaging
Clarisse F. de Vries, Roger T. Staff, Kimberly G. Noble, Ryan L. Muetzel, Meike W. Vernooij, Tonya White, Gordon D. Waiter, Alison D. Murray
BRAIN IMAGING AND BEHAVIOR
(2020)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Naif A. Majrashi, Trevor S. Ahearn, Justin H. G. Williams, Gordon D. Waiter
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2020)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Charlotte F. Huggins, Isobel M. Cameron, Neil W. Scott, Justin H. G. Williams, Sakiko Yoshikawa, Wataru Sato
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of J-AFQ and examine its transcultural properties. Results showed that the 13-item version of J-AFQ, after excluding reversed worded items, had good internal consistency and content validity in Japanese culture. Cultural differences and differential item functioning were identified when comparing Japanese and UK/Irish participants, indicating limitations in the 18-item instrument in Japanese culture. Nonetheless, the 13-item J-AFQ was deemed a valid and reliable measure of motor empathy across cultures.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ellen Backhouse, Susan D. Shenkin, Andrew M. McIntosh, Mark E. Bastin, Heather C. Whalley, Maria Valdez Hernandez, Susana Munoz Maniega, Mathew A. Harris, Aleks Stolicyn, Archie Campbell, Douglas Steele, Gordon D. Waiter, Anca-Larisa Sandu, Jennifer M. J. Waymont, Alison D. Murray, Simon R. Cox, Susanne R. de Rooij, Tessa J. Roseboom, Joanna M. Wardlaw
Summary: This study found that early life factors such as birth weight, childhood IQ, and education level are associated with small vessel disease in later life, independent of each other, vascular risk factors, and adult socio-economic status. These findings suggest that risk for small vessel disease may originate in early life and highlight the importance of investing in early child development to improve brain health and prevent dementia and stroke in older age.
Article
Neurosciences
Naif A. Majrashi, Ali S. Alyami, Nasser A. Shubayr, Meshaal M. Alenezi, Gordon D. Waiter
Summary: This study is the first to demonstrate an association between photoperiod and amygdala volume, supporting the role of photoperiod in brain structural plasticity.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Rosalind Nina Mitchell-Hay, Trevor S. Ahearn, Alison D. Murray, Gordon D. Waiter
Summary: This study assessed the reproducibility and repeatability of radiomics variables in brain MRI through a multivisit, multicenter study. The results indicated that careful selection of radiomic features is required due to the significant limitation of repeatability and reproducibility.
JOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Clinical
Michelle Sader, Justin H. G. Williams, Gordon D. Waiter
Summary: Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) share some behavioral similarities, but there is no structural overlap between them. Research findings suggest no consistent neuroanatomical abnormality associated with ASD, indicating that the reported behavioral similarities between AN and ASD are not due to neuroanatomical structural similarities.
EUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anca-Larisa Sandu, Gordon D. Waiter, Roger T. Staff, Nafeesa Nazlee, Tina Habota, Chris J. McNeil, Dorota Chapko, Justin H. Williams, Caroline H. D. Fall, Giriraj R. Chandak, Shailesh Pene, Murali Krishna, Andrew M. McIntosh, Heather C. Whalley, Kalyanaraman Kumaran, Ghattu V. Krishnaveni, Alison D. Murray
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between brain structural complexity and general intelligence in two different populations (UK and Indian), and finds that brain complexity and volume are positively correlated with intelligence, with significant correlations in women but not always in men.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Nafeesa Nazlee, Gordon D. Waiter, Anca-Larisa Sandu
Summary: This study analyzed the changes in cortical morphology and complexity with age and sex differences using data from the UK Biobank imaging cohort. The results showed significant age-related and sex-related differences in cortical complexity, with males being more affected by age. Additionally, patterns of asymmetry were observed between hemispheres, lobes, and sexes. The findings provide valuable insights into the understanding of age-related sex and asymmetry differences in the brain.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Laura de Nooij, Mark J. Adams, Emma L. Hawkins, Liana Romaniuk, Marcus R. Munafo, Ian S. Penton-Voak, Rebecca Elliott, Amy R. Bland, Gordon D. Waiter, Anca-Larisa Sandu, Tina Habota, J. Douglas Steele, Alison D. Murray, Archie Campbell, David J. Porteous, Generation Scotland, Andrew M. McIntosh, Heather C. Whalley
Summary: The study found subtle negative affective biases associated with depressive symptoms across the sample, independent of non-affective cognition, with no evidence of affective biases in individuals with remitted symptoms.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Experimental
Charlotte F. Huggins, Isobel M. Cameron, Justin H. G. Williams
Summary: Research suggests that emotional self-awareness is not diminished in autism, and the emotional consistency task is an effective method to measure emotional self-awareness. Individuals with higher autistic traits tend to underestimate their emotional self-awareness, possibly due to greater metacognitive difficulties and negative self-beliefs.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY-GENERAL
(2021)
Review
Psychology, Developmental
Charlotte F. Huggins, Gemma Donnan, Isobel M. Cameron, Justin H. G. Williams
Summary: The study suggests that emotional self-awareness is poorer in individuals with autism, especially during adolescence and later stages, possibly due to negative self-beliefs in self-perception.
Review
Education, Special
C. F. Huggins, G. Donnan, I. M. Cameron, J. H. G. Williams
RESEARCH IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
(2020)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Youling Bai, Jianguo Qu, Dan Li, Huazhan Yin
Summary: This study used resting-state functional connectivity analysis to investigate the neural pathways between internet addiction tendency and sleep quality, and found a positive correlation between internet addiction tendency and the strength of functional connectivity within the default-mode network. Furthermore, internet addiction tendency mediated the relationship between these functional couplings and sleep quality.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Jie Zhang, Xiyan Li, Shiwei Liu, Can Xu, Zhijie Zhang
Summary: In this study, electroencephalogram data was analyzed to compare the resting network activation between heavy media multitaskers (HMM) and light media multitaskers (LMM). The results showed that HMM had weaker activation in the attention network, but enhanced activation in the salience network. They also had an enhanced visual network and may feel less comfortable during resting-state periods. This suggests that chronic media multitasking leads to a bottom-up or stimulus-driven allocation of attention for HMM, while LMM use a top-down approach.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY
(2024)
