title: An examination of the influence of visuomotor associations on interpersonal motor resonance.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, 607 St Kilda Road, Level 4, VIC 3004, Australia. Electronic address: bernadette.fitzgibbon@monash.edu.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Fitzgibbon
authors.affiliation: Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, 607 St Kilda Road, Level 4, VIC 3004, Australia.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.affiliation: Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, The Alfred and Central Clinical School, Monash University, 607 St Kilda Road, Level 4, VIC 3004, Australia; Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia.
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Enticott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Association model; Interpersonal resonance; Mirror neurons; Transcranial magnetic stimulation