Effect of Acute Moderate-Intensity Exercise on the Mirror Neuron System: Role of Cardiovascular Fitness Level

AbstractMirror neurons were accidentally discovered during research on the activity of nerve cells which was conducted by a team of Italian scientists in Parma. They observed that certain brain cells were activated when an animal performed a given activity but also when it observed a similar activity performed by someone else. The following discovery of mirror neurons in the human brain initiated a wave of experimental research which confirmed that mirror nerve cells are responsible for understanding the mental state of other humans. This process is much more complicated and important from an evolutionary point of view than it might initially seem. The activity of mirror neurons is noticeable in everyday life, during all interactions with other living beings. This is exhibited through mirroring – the reflection of emotional and epistemic mental states of others based on their behavior. We present the activities of mirror neurons and the theoretical framework of research. Finally, we discuss the results of neurological studies which have made it possible to locate and define in detail the role of the mirror neuron system in the human brain.

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Observing complex action sequences: The role of the fronto-parietal mirror neuron system

NeuroImage ◽

10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.07.035 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 923-935 ◽

Cited By ~ 89

Author(s):

Istvan Molnar-Szakacs ◽

Jonas Kaplan ◽

Patricia M. Greenfield ◽

Marco Iacoboni

Keyword(s):

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Complex Action ◽

Neuron System ◽

Action Sequences

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A New Approach in Neurorehabilitation – The Role of the Mirror Neuron System

European Neurological Review ◽

10.17925/enr.2014.09.01.60 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 60

Author(s):

Juliane Blessin ◽

Farsin Hamzei ◽

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Keyword(s):

Daily Living ◽

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Mirror Therapy ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Comprehensive Strategy ◽

Neuron System ◽

New Approach ◽

Therapeutic Concepts

Even in nations with well-established comprehensive strategy with the aim to achieve full coverage to rehabilitation, half of the stroke patients remain dependent on activities of daily living (ADL) 3 months post stroke. Therefore, in the last few years part of the scientific community is increasingly focusing on development of innovative therapeutic concepts to increase effectiveness of stroke rehabilitation. In the following article we discuss a new approach in recovery of stroke patients with the use of a mirror. A mirror is positioned orthogonally in front of a patient. The less-affected arm is moved while the patient is observing this movement in the mirror. The illusion is created that he affected arm is moving. Despite the enthusiastic response that mirror therapy has received, not every stroke patient benefits from mirror therapy. This circumstance reflects that an individualised therapy approach is necessary for an effective rehabilitation regime of stroke patients.

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The interpretation of mu suppression as an index of mirror neuron activity: past, present and future

Royal Society Open Science ◽

10.1098/rsos.160662 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 160662 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Hannah M. Hobson ◽

Dorothy V. M. Bishop

Keyword(s):

Mirror Neuron System ◽

Mirror Neuron ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Social Processes ◽

Neuron Activity ◽

Neuron System ◽

Mu Suppression ◽

Spectrum Disorders ◽

Robust Evidence

Mu suppression studies have been widely used to infer the activity of the human mirror neuron system (MNS) in a number of processes, ranging from action understanding, language, empathy and the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Although mu suppression is enjoying a resurgence of interest, it has a long history. This review aimed to revisit mu's past, and examine its recent use to investigate MNS involvement in language, social processes and ASDs. Mu suppression studies have largely failed to produce robust evidence for the role of the MNS in these domains. Several key potential shortcomings with the use and interpretation of mu suppression, documented in the older literature and highlighted by more recent reports, are explored here.

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