MIRROR NEURON SYSTEM AND ACTION OBSERVATION AFTER MOTOR STROKE

描述（由申请人提供）：假定的人类镜像神经元系统（MNS）被定义为大脑运动区域，当我们执行一个动作时，当我们观察到其他人正在执行类似的动作时，该区域都会做出反应。因此，运动系统可以在没有明显运动的情况下参与。中风后运动功能的康复往往是具有挑战性的，因为不佳或缺乏自主运动能力。在中风康复中，使用MNS的方法，例如，动作观察，可以帮助重建运动功能，尽管在物理治疗中使用隐蔽练习作为自愿练习的替代或补充。该研究的第一个组成部分将通过fMRI测量运动观察和执行过程中的大脑活动来确定中风和初级运动或前运动皮层受损的参与者的MNS。PIs旨在更好地了解中风和运动缺陷如何影响MNS，并评估中风后MNS适应性功能重组的常见模式。拟议研究的第二个部分将比较使用双亲侧肢体和非双亲侧肢体观察动作时的全脑反应。在健康的大脑中，动作观察主要由MNS处理，以支持动作理解和模仿。中风后，由于运动障碍，一些观察到的动作对观察者来说可能很难或不可能执行，因此可能需要更多的审议处理，由其他多模态认知大脑区域支持，通常被称为“心智化系统”。pi旨在验证以下假设：(1)观察使用非双亲肢体对应肢体的动作与MNS相关；而(2)观察使用双亲肢体对应肢体的动作涉及MNS和心智化系统。目的是更好地了解脑卒中后MNS和心理化系统在模仿和社会认知中的协同作用。本研究计划的总体目标是为开发利用MNS促进中风恢复的方法提供信息，并确定哪些患者可能从涉及动作观察的治疗中获益最多。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The putative human mirror neuron system (MNS) is defined as motor brain regions that respond both when we perform an action, and when we observe similar actions being performed by others. Thus, the motor system may be engaged without overt movement. Rehabilitation of motor function after stroke is often challenging due to poor to absent voluntary movement ability. Methods in stroke rehabilitation that engage the MNS, for example, action observation, may help to rebuild motor function despite impairments by using covert practice as an alternative or complement to voluntary practice during physical therapy. The first component of the proposed study will identify the MNS in participants with stroke and damage to the primary motor or premotor cortex by measuring brain activity during action observation and execution in fMRI. The PIs aim to better understand how stroke and motor deficits affect the MNS, and to assess for common patterns of adaptive functional reorganization of the MNS after stroke. The second component of the proposed study will compare the whole brain response between observation of actions that use the counterpart to the paretic and the non-paretic limb. In the healthy brain, action observation is processed primarily by the MNS to support action understanding and imitation. After stroke, some observed actions may be difficult or impossible for the observer to perform due to motor impairments, and thus may engage a more deliberative processing supported by other multimodal cognitive brain regions commonly referred to as the "mentalizing system." The PIs aim to test the hypotheses that (1) observing actions that use the counterpart to the non-paretic limb engages the MNS; whereas (2) observing actions that use the counterpart to the paretic limb engages the MNS plus the mentalizing system. The PIs aim to better understand the cooperative roles of the MNS and the mentalizing system for imitation and social cognition after stroke. The overall aim of this research program is to inform the development of methods that engage the MNS to promote recovery from stroke, and to identify which patients might benefit most from therapy involving action observation.