OBJECTIVE To identify neural networks associated with the use of a mirror to superimpose movement of 1 hand on top of a nonmoving contralateral hand (often referred to as mirror therapy or mirror-induced visual illusion). DESIGN A functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study of mirror-induced visual illusion of hand movements using a blocked design in a 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging s...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Mirror movements (MM) are involuntary synchronous movements of one limb during voluntary unilateral movements of the opposite limb. We measured MM in stroke and control subjects and evaluated whether MM after stroke are related to motor function. METHODS Twenty-three patients and 16 control subjects were studied. A computerized dynamometer was used during two squeezing ...

We present detailed considerations on the achievable sensitivity in the measurement of birefringence using a high finesse optical cavity, emphasizing techniques based on frequency metrology. Alternative approaches of laser locking and cavity measurement techniques are discussed and demonstrated. High-precision measurements of the cavity mirror birefringence have led to the interesting observati...

Previous neuroimaging research has attempted to demonstrate a preferential involvement of the human mirror neuron system (MNS) in the comprehension of effector-related action word (verb) meanings. These studies have assumed that Broca's area (or Brodmann's area 44) is the homologue of a monkey premotor area (F5) containing mouth and hand mirror neurons, and that action word meanings are shared ...

In the present study, we describe a new type of visuomotor neurons, named tool-responding mirror neurons, which are found in the lateral sector of monkey ventral premotor area F5. Tool-responding mirror neurons discharge when the monkey observes actions performed by an experimenter with a tool (a stick or a pair of pliers). This response is stronger than that obtained when the monkey observes a...

A vicarious experience is an empathetic state in response to the observation of others’ sensations, emotions, and actions (Keysers and Gazzola, 2009). Vicarious experiences in response to social stimuli are quite common in the general healthy population and they may even constitute an important basis for social behavior. Interestingly, vicarious experiences recruit similar neural processes as t...

Two issues concerning alias-free, parallel, quadrature mirror filter (QMF) banks are addressed in this correspondence. First, a property concerning alias-free analysis/synthesis systems is established; second, a scheme is proposed, by which a synthesis bank can be modified in order to take care of aliasing errors caused by linear channel-distortion in a simple manner. Applications of the stated...

BACKGROUND Mirror movements (MM) are involuntary movements of homologous muscles during voluntary movements of contralateral body regions. While subtle mirroring can be present in otherwise healthy adults, overt MM may be common in many movement disorders. Examining these collective findings may further our understanding of MM and help define their usefulness as a clinical sign. METHODS We so...

BACKGROUND Evidence of reliable smooth visual pursuit is crucial for both diagnosis and prognosis in prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDOC). However, a mirror is more likely than an object to elicit evidence of smooth pursuit. Our objective was to identify the physiological and/or cognitive mechanism underlying the mirror benefit. METHODS We recorded eye-movements while healthy participa...

Imitation is crucial for proper development of social and communicative skills. Here, we argue that, based on an error analysis of a behavioral imitation task, adult Asperger and high-functioning autistic subjects suffer from an intriguing deficit of imitation: they lack the natural preference for imitation in a mirror-image fashion. The imitation task consisted of a simple movement sequence of...