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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy of the Sensory and Motor Brain Regions with Simultaneous Kinematic and EMG Monitoring During Motor Tasks

Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy of the Sensory and Motor Brain Regions with Simultaneous Kinematic and EMG Monitoring During Motor Tasks

Published on: December 5, 2014

Mapping brain function underlying naturalistic motor observation and imitation using high-density diffuse optical

Dalin Yang¹, Tessa G George¹, Chloe M Sobolewski¹

¹Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States.

Imaging Neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)

|September 24, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is linked to motor imitation differences, potentially involving the mirror neuron system (MNS). This study used HD-DOT to explore brain activity during motor tasks in autistic and non-autistic adults, revealing task-specific MNS engagement.

Keywords:

autism spectrum disorder (ASD)computer-vision-based assessment of motor imitation (CAMI)high-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT)motor imitation (IM)motor observation (OBS)non-autistic individuals (NAI)

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Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy of the Sensory and Motor Brain Regions with Simultaneous Kinematic and EMG Monitoring During Motor Tasks

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Published on: October 20, 2023

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Neuroscience
Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social communication deficits and restricted behaviors.
Impaired motor imitation is a hallmark of ASD, persisting from childhood to adulthood.
The mirror neuron system (MNS) is implicated in motor imitation deficits observed in ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the neural substrates of motor observation and imitation in autistic and non-autistic adults using high-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT).
To examine differences in MNS activation between motor observation and imitation tasks.
To explore correlations between MNS activity, autistic traits, and motor imitation fidelity.

Main Methods:

Utilized HD-DOT to image brain function in 100 participants (19 with ASD, 81 neurotypical) during motor observation and imitation tasks.
Assessed motor imitation fidelity using 3D cameras and computerized analysis (CAMI).
Measured autistic traits using the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2) and analyzed associations with brain activity.

Main Results:

Both observation and imitation tasks activated higher-order visual and MNS regions (inferior parietal lobule, superior temporal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus).
Imitation specifically engaged additional motor regions (superior parietal lobule, primary motor cortex, supplementary motor area).
Higher autistic traits correlated with increased activation in the right superior parietal lobule during motor observation; no link found between brain activity and imitation fidelity.

Conclusions:

HD-DOT effectively identified shared and task-specific cortical responses during motor observation and imitation.
Findings highlight differential engagement of MNS regions depending on the task (observation vs. imitation).
The study provides insights into the neural mechanisms underlying motor imitation in ASD and its relationship with autistic traits.