Functions and Development of the Mirror Neuron System

镜像神经元系统的功能与发展 项目摘要 两种基本能力是人类适应功能的核心：在 服务于目标，以及理解社会伙伴的目标以产生适应性的能力 社会反应。这些能力在婴儿期出现，并在儿童时期经历基础发展。 来自不同科学方法的证据表明，这些能力可能得到共同的 底层神经网络称为镜像神经元系统(MNS)。该系统由一个网络组成 相互连接的大脑区域，其中一些可能包含镜像神经元(MN)，另一些则涉及 反馈在支持这些复杂能力的大脑区域之间循环。MNS的反应是当我们 执行一个动作，当我们观察到其他人执行该动作时。MNS的发现，首次提出 在非人类灵长类动物中，具有彻底改变对目标导向行动的科学理解的潜力， 社会知觉及其发展。在最初的获奖期间，该计划项目开始研究 这项研究在人类婴儿中整合了MNS复杂的神经电路和功能方面 和儿童，这可以说是MNS最强大的潜在影响之一。我们的工作重点 在发育过程中需要对MNS的神经和功能方面进行系统的研究， 为了了解典型的发育途径，也为了揭示发育障碍 社会认知的发展和MNS的潜在功能被破坏，如在自闭症中 谱系障碍(ASD)。同样，它也需要创新的方法论方法来衡量 在与MN相关联的复杂行为期间激活的网络。我们的工作进展包括 对扩展的MNS的描述，这是一组复杂的大脑网络参与动作执行和 观察；MNS在整个发展阶段发生重大变化的结果；并不令人惊讶的是， MNS与运动技能的出现和整合密切相关，不仅在婴儿期，而且在 童年。在接下来的五年里，我们将推进对MNS和 与其他认知系统的关系；探索MNS对 社会认知的发展；并考察包括积极经验在内的经验对MNS的调节作用 训练。最后，我们将扩展我们的方法来调查可能驱动不同社会模式的因素 自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)中的缺陷。

Function and Development of the Mirror Neuron System Project Summary Two fundamental abilities are central to adaptive human functioning: the ability to deploy actions strategically in the service of goals, and the ability to apprehend the goals of social partners in order to produce adaptive social responses. These abilities emerge in infancy and undergo foundational developments across childhood. Evidence from diverse scientific approaches indicates that these capacities may be supported by a common underlying neural network known as the mirror neuron system (MNS). This system is comprised of a network of inter-connected brain regions some of which may contain mirror neurons (MNs) and others that involve feedback loops across brain regions supporting these complex capabilities. The MNS responds both when we perform an action and when we observe someone else perform that action. The discovery of MNs, first made in non-human primates, holds the potential to revolutionize scientific understanding of goal-directed action, social perception and their development. During the initial award period, this Program Project began studies that investigated integrating the complex neural circuitry and functional aspects of the MNS in human infants and children, which arguably are some of the most powerful potential effects of the MNS. Our work highlighted the need for systematic investigations of the neural and functional aspects of the MNS during development, both for understanding typical developmental pathways and for shedding light on developmental disorders in which the development of social cognition and the potential functions of the MNS are disrupted, as in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As well, it necessitates innovative methodological approaches to measure the networks activated during complex behaviors associated with the MNS. Advances in our work include description of an extended MNS, the result of a complex set of brain networks involved in action execution and observation; findings of significant changes in the MNS across development; and, not surprisingly, that the MNS is linked tightly to the emergence and integration of motor skills not only during infancy but across childhood. In the next five years we will advance an understanding of the neural networks of the MNS and relations to other cognitive systems; explore the potential contributions and limitations of the MNS for the development of social cognition; and investigate the modulation of the MNS via experience including active training. Finally, we will extend our approach to investigate factors that may drive the varied patterns of social deficit seen in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).