The interpretation of mu suppression as an index of mirror neuron activity: past, present and future

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Mu suppression is a widely used EEG measure to infer human mirror neuron system (MNS) activity.
• MNS research is applied to understand action understanding, language, empathy, and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
• Despite a resurgence in interest, the historical application and interpretation of mu suppression warrant critical examination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To revisit the historical use of mu suppression in neuroscience.
• To critically examine recent applications of mu suppression in MNS research.
• To identify limitations in current mu suppression methodologies and interpretations.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of historical and recent studies utilizing mu suppression.
• Analysis of MNS involvement in language, social processes, and ASDs.
• Exploration of potential shortcomings in the use and interpretation of mu suppression data.

Main Results:

• Mu suppression studies have largely failed to provide robust evidence for MNS involvement in key cognitive and developmental domains.
• Older literature and recent reports highlight significant potential shortcomings in mu suppression use and interpretation.
• The reliability and validity of mu suppression as a sole indicator of MNS activity are questioned.

Conclusions:

• The current application of mu suppression in MNS research may be limited by methodological and interpretational issues.
• Further research is needed to refine EEG measures and their interpretation for studying the MNS.
• Re-evaluation of existing MNS research paradigms is necessary for advancing our understanding of social cognition and developmental disorders.