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Abstract

Neurons of the rostral part of inferior premotor cortex of the monkey discharge during goal-directed hand movements such as grasping, holding, and tearing. We report here that many of these neurons become active also when the monkey observes specific, meaningful hand movements performed by the experimenters. The effective experimenters' movements include among others placing or retrieving a piece of food from a table, grasping food from another experimenter's hand, and manipulating objects. There is always a clear link between the effective observed movement and that executed by the monkey and, often, only movements of the experimenter identical to those controlled by a given neuron are able to activate it. These findings indicate that premotor neurons can retrieve movements not only on the basis of stimulus characteristics, as previously described, but also on the basis of the meaning of the observed actions.
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... In fact, mirror neurons discharge when an object-directed action is performed but also when an action is perceived (Rizzolatti and Craighero, 2004;van der Wel et al., 2013). A variety of studies investigated the role of mirror neurons in parieto-frontal circuits in monkeys (Bonini et al., 2010;Caggiano et al., 2009;Di Pellegrino et al., 1992;Gallese et al., 1996;Rizzolatti and Sinigaglia, 2010) and humans (Iacoboni et al., 2005;Mukamel et al., 2010). In particular, the mirror neuron system can be referred to as two principal hubs: the frontal lobe and the IPL. ...
... In particular, the mirror neuron system can be referred to as two principal hubs: the frontal lobe and the IPL. This type of neuron was first discovered in area F5 of the ventral premotor cortex of macaques (Di Pellegrino et al., 1992;Gallese et al., 1996;Rizzolatti et al., 1997), where neurons that are responsive to the presentation of an object as the monkey grasps it are also present (Murata et al., 1997;Raos et al., 2006). Area F5 is active during both the observation and execution of specific goal-directed actions involving the hand and the mouth (Ferri et al., 2015) due to the coexistence of motor and mirror neurons. ...
... This means that most V6A cells easily discriminate one's own actions from the actions of others. A small subset of V6A neurons (20%) discharge during both grasp execution and the observation of another's grasping, apparently complying with the original definition of mirror neurons (di Pellegrino et al., 1992;Gallese et al., 1996;Rizzolatti et al., 1997). It must however be highlighted that the incidence of mirror neurons in V6A is much lower than in the IPL or in ventral premotor cortex. ...
... In the last few decades, cognitive neuroscience shed light on the underlying dynamics of this type of empathic resonance. Evidence shows that humans and other animalslikely including dogs too (Sue 2016), are empathic beings equipped with mirror neurons, a specific type of neurons that reproduce in the bodymind of an observer what is being observed in the actions of others (Gazzola et al. 2006;Heimann et al. 2014;Kohler (toward) a canine anthropology Pellegrino et al. 1992;Rizzolatti et al. 1988;Rizzolatti and Sinigaglia 2010;Rochat et al. 2010). Based on those relevant findings, theatre scholars further investigated the convergence of cognitive neuroscience, theatre and the synaesthetic exchange between the actor and the spectator (Falletti et al. 2016). ...
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Understanding dog and human interaction in all forms is essential to improve the relationship between the two species and further contribute to a fair process of mutual influence. That is fundamental for dog parents/caregivers/ guardians and professionals working with dogs and people at any level. Additionally, dog-human communication, behaviour and training may play a critical role in rediscussing human supremacy, for people follow dog behaviour and training models extensively and worldwide. Countless studies on dog behaviour and cognition have unfolded excellent knowledge in recent decades. However, the psychophysical interface of dog-human interaction needs to be explored further. To investigate this aspect with a multidisciplinary approach, I gather elements from Theatre Anthropology, psychophysiology, cognitive neuroscience and bodymind practices. I introduce the theoretical frame of Canine Anthropology to focus on the psychophysicality of the human bodymind and its canine counterpart when some interactions between the two species occur. I describe the roles of the human “actor” and the canine “spectator” involved in complex events that generate meaning. A human's body position, action, and intention critically impact dog behaviour, and the dog-human interaction acquires a phenomenological significance. As spectators and mediators, dogs can affect human behaviour and flip their roles. They are the receivers and the reciprocators of human synaesthetic transmission. Thus, the dog-human interaction discloses itself as a psychophysical and embodied experience.
... One functional network potentially associated with the processing of observed pain is the mirror neuron system (MNS). The MNS is a network in the brain believed to contain mirror neurons, which activate not only when an action is performed but also when it is observed [12][13][14]. While the primary functions attributed to the MNS in social cognition are action understanding and imitation [15], a significant body of literature supports its involvement in empathy. ...
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Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the brain activity patterns during the observation of painful expressions and to establish the relationship between this activity and the scores obtained on the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Methods: The study included twenty healthy, right-handed subjects (10 women). We conducted a task-based and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study. The task involved observing pictures displaying painful expressions. We performed a region of interest (ROI) analysis focusing on the core regions of the sensorimotor mirror neuron system (MNS). Resting-state fMRI was utilized to assess the functional connectivity of the sensorimotor MNS regions with the rest of the cortex using a seed-to-voxel approach. Additionally, we conducted a regression analysis to examine the relationship between brain activity and scores from the IRI subtests. Results: Observing painful expressions led to increased activity in specific regions of the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes. The largest cluster of activation was observed in the left inferior parietal lobule (IPL). However, the ROI analysis did not reveal any significant activity in the remaining core regions of the sensorimotor MNS. The regression analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between brain activity during the observation of pain and the “empathic concern” subtest scores of the IRI in both the cingulate gyri and bilateral IPL. Finally, we identified a positive relationship between the “empathic concern” subtest of the IRI and the functional connectivity (FC) of bilateral IPLs with the bilateral prefrontal cortex and the right IFG. Conclusion: Observing expressions of pain triggers activation in the sensorimotor MNS, and this activation is influenced by the individual’s level of empathy.
... The opportunity for learners to observe their partner in the dyad has been suggested to be the primary variable facilitating skill acquisition in dyad practice. The processes underlying action execution and action observation are thought to be mediated by a common neural network involving the mirror neuron system which is proposed to be the neurophysiological basis for observational learning (Di Pellegrino et al., 1992). The mirror neurons are a specialized class of premotor neurons that become activated when observing and performing a goal-directed action, such as grasping. ...
... The mirror neuron system (MNS) entails the activity of the neuron population that is activated both when an individual performs a specific action and when individuals observe a similar action performed by another individual. Mirror neurons were first discovered in ventral premotor area F5 of the macaque monkey [1]. They were also shown to exist in a region of the inferior parietal lobule [2]. ...
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Background/aim: The firing rate of the mirror neuron system in monkeys decreases systematically with more repetitions. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the activity of the mirror neuron system varies based on the observed movement and the contents of the action, as well as whether there is inhibition in the mirror neuron system when humans observe repeated actions. If inhibition is present, the second question of the study is whether it is related to the organization of the observed action. Materials and methods: Fourteen healthy volunteers participated in the study. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was applied to the left primary motor cortex and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from the right first dorsal interosseous and abductor pollicis brevis muscles while the participants were watching videos specially prepared for the study. Results: There were no significant changes in MEP amplitudes compared to baseline MEPs while observing aimless action. However, while participants watched the repeated action video, the mean MEP amplitude increased at the beginning of the movement, but neither facilitation nor inhibition was detected when the participants watched the phase of grasping the object of the action compared to the baseline MEP amplitude. On the other hand, while participants were watching different activities, an increased MEP amplitude was observed at the beginning of the movement and in the grasping of the object of the action. Additionally, there was no significant reduction in MEP amplitude during any movement stages while observing the repeated action video. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the activation of the mirror neuron system in humans depends on the content and stages of the observed movement. Additionally, there was no inhibition or systematic reduction in MEP amplitudes while watching a repeated action.
... This F5 ROI included all three subdivisions of F5-F5p and F5a at different anterior-posterior positions in the posterior bank of the inferior arcuate sulcus and F5c on the adjacent cortical convexity [27][28][29]. Single-cell investigations have demonstrated mirror neurons in each of these ROIs [26,[30][31][32][33][34]. Additionally, each of these regions has been previously shown to yield cross-modal action-specific representations for the same observed and executed reach-and-grasp or reach-and-touch actions [1] used in the current study. ...
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