[Functioning features of the mirror neuron system in patients with affective disorders]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• The mirror neuron system (MNS) plays a crucial role in understanding and imitating actions.
• Alterations in MNS function are implicated in various neurological and psychiatric conditions, including affective disorders.
• Investigating MNS activation patterns can provide insights into the neural underpinnings of these disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in electroencephalography (EEG) patterns and neural network activation during the perception and execution of a simple motor act.
• To compare MNS activation between individuals with affective disorders and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Utilized electroencephalography (EEG) to record brain activity.
• Employed the standardized low-resolution electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) method to solve the EEG inverse problem and identify brain activation areas.
• Participants observed, imitated, and then performed a hand-clenching motor task.

Main Results:

• Healthy subjects demonstrated MNS activation in the temporal lobes of both hemispheres and the superior, middle, and inferior frontal gyri.
• Patients with affective disorders exhibited MNS activation predominantly in the left temporal region.

Conclusions:

• Affective disorders are associated with distinct patterns of MNS activation compared to healthy individuals.
• The findings suggest potential neurobiological differences in action perception and execution in affective disorders, specifically involving atypical mirror system engagement.