An examination of the influence of visuomotor associations on interpersonal motor resonance

• Published in: Neuropsychologia 2014-04, Vol.56, p.439-446
• Main Authors: Fitzgibbon, B.M., Fitzgerald, P.B., Enticott, P.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Anatomical correlates of behavior; Association model; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Electromyography; Evoked Potentials, Motor - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Interpersonal resonance; Male; Mirror neurons; Motor Cortex - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - innervation; Orientation - physiology; Photic Stimulation; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social attribution, perception and cognition; Social interactions. Communication. Group processes; Social psychology; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0028-3932; 1873-3514
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.02.018

The adaptation account of mirror neurons in humans proposes that mirror systems have been selected for in evolution to facilitate social cognition. By contrast, a recent “association” account of mirror neurons in humans argues that mirror systems are not the result of a specific adaptation, but of sensorimotor learning arising from concurrent visual and motor activity. Here, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electromyography (EMG) to evaluate whether visuomotor associations affect interpersonal motor resonance, a putative measure of mirror system activity. 18 participants underwent two TMS sessions exploring whether visuomotor associations established throughout one׳s lifespan, namely common movements and movements generated from one׳s own perspective, are associated with increased putative mirror system activity. Our results showed no overall difference in interpersonal motor resonance to common versus uncommon actions, or actions presented from an egocentric (self) versus an allocentric (other) perspective. We did, however, observe increased interpersonal motor resonance within the abductor digiti minimi (ADM) muscle in response to allocentric compared to egocentric movements. As the association model predicts stronger mirror system response to actions with stronger visuomotor associations, such as common movements and those presented from an egocentric perspective, our findings provide little evidence to support the association model. •Mirror neurons are active during action performance and observation.•Mirror neurons may have emerged through sensorimotor learning.•We used TMS to measure putative mirror system activity to actions.•We found limited evidence for the influence of action commonality or orientation.