Observation of Performance

项目概要/摘要 镜像神经元构成了一类独特的神经元，因为它们的放电率在两个过程中都受到调制。 性能和观察期间。我们将研究镜像神经元生理学的三个方面。第一、 考虑到镜像神经元被认为是对另一个人的行为进行理解的中介，在目标1中，我们 询问在观察期间镜像神经元的活动是否取决于个体是否执行 运动是同一种类的。我们假设H1 A-镜像神经元的活动受到更多的调节， 当观察对象观看来自同一物种的个体时， 不同的物种此外，我们假设H1B -同种表演者之间的交流 和观察员加强与观察有关的活动。其次，尽管大多数镜像神经元的研究 我们的初步研究集中在运动本身的调制上，表明镜像神经元 种群代表了多个行为时期的整个序列，包括在此期间没有 运动发生。在目标2中，我们问镜像神经元群体是否代表其他行为时期， 而不是运动本身。我们假设：H2 A-镜像神经元在单独的 H2 B-镜像神经元群体代表整个序列 多个行为时期，无论受试者是执行还是观察; H2 C-表示 在镜像神经元群体的表现和观察期间， 腹侧或背侧运动前皮层的神经元，但与初级运动皮层的神经元不同。三是 介绍了新的概念，即i）镜像神经元活动的条件依赖性调制与 手臂必须到达的位置和手必须抓住的物体在实验上是分离的。 ii）代表行为时期序列的条件无关调制。在目标3中，我们要求 顶叶到达区（PRR）和/或前顶内区（AIP）的失活是否减少或 消除了运动前区和运动皮层中的条件依赖信息，同时留下条件- 独立调制相对不变。我们假设：H3 A-在观察过程中， PRR和/或AIP将分别减少或消除反射镜的位置和/或物体相关调制， 神经元群体，H3 B-同时保持条件无关的调制相对不变。

Project Summary/Abstract Mirror neurons constitute a distinct class of neurons in that their firing rates are modulated both during performance and during observation. We will investigate three aspects of mirror neuron physiology. First, given that mirror neurons are thought to mediate understanding of another individual’s actions, in Aim 1 we ask if mirror neuron activity during observation differs depending on whether or not the individual performing the movement is of the same species. We hypothesize H1A – that mirror neuron activity is modulated more when the observing subject watches an individual from the same species than when the performer is from a different species. Furthermore, we hypothesize H1B – that communication between a conspecific performer and observer enhances observation-related activity. Second, although most studies of mirror neurons have focused on modulation during movement per se, our preliminary studies suggest that mirror neuron populations represent entire sequences of multiple behavioral epochs, including epochs during which no movement occurs. In Aim 2 we ask whether mirror neuron populations represent behavioral epochs other than the movement per se. We hypothesize: H2A – that mirror neurons are modulated during separate instruction and/or preparatory periods; H2B – that mirror neuron populations represent entire sequences of multiple behavioral epochs whether the subject is performing or observing; and H2C – that the representation of behavioral epoch sequences is similar during performance and observation in mirror neuron populations from the ventral or dorsal premotor cortex, but different in those from the primary motor cortex. Third, we introduce the novel notion that i) condition-dependent modulation of mirror neuron activity related to the location to which the arm must reach and to the object the hand must grasp is dissociable experimentally from ii) condition-independent modulation that represents the sequence of behavioral epochs. In Aim 3 we ask whether inactivation of the parietal reach region (PRR) and/or the anterior intraparietal area (AIP) reduces or eliminates condition-dependent information in the premotor and motor cortex, while leaving condition- independent modulation relatively unchanged. We hypothesize: H3A – that during observation, inactivation of PRR and/or AIP will reduce or eliminate the location- and/or object-related modulation, respectively, of mirror neuron populations, H3B – while leaving the condition-independent modulation relatively unchanged.