The mirror neuron system (MNS) is one of the largest discoveries of the last century. Their discharge mechanism is activated both in execution of a motor act and during the observation of the same action performed by other thing, because in both cases there is the same motor cortical representation. This discovery, done originally in monkeys, it was the starting point for further research in humans, in which has been shown that the MNS is also activated during the observation of actions performed by conspecific. The present study aim to investigate if and how corticospinal activation of the observer's muscle involved in the observed action is modulated on the basis of the observation of any behavior, or whether such modulation is associated with observation of a specific object or objective. Combining the Single-puls Trascranial Magnetic Stimulation(spTMS) of primary motor cortex to the recording of related Motor Evoked Potentials (MEP) in hand muscles, we have highlighted a increased motor activation during the observation of intransitive movements compared to transitive movements. The present study showed that unusual movements - such as a hand spinning on itself - may require greater activation of the MNS to recognize and learn the new motor pattern. These results could be useful in the field of Action Observation Therapy (AOT), one of the best neuro therapies rehabilitation currently in use for motor and functional recovery of limbs in patients suffering from stroke.
Il sistema dei neuroni specchio (mirror neuron system - MNS) rappresenta una delle più grandi scoperte della fine dell’ultimo secolo (di Pellegrino et al., 1992). Il meccanismo di scarica dei neuroni specchio si attiva sia nell’esecuzione di un atto motorio sia durante l’osservazione della stessa azione compiuta da un altro, perché in entrambi i casi si attiva la stessa rappresentazione corticale motoria. Questa scoperta, fatta originariamente nella scimmia, è stata poi il punto di partenza di ulteriori ricerche nell’uomo, in cui è stato dimostrato che il MNS si attiva anche durante l’osservazione di azioni eseguite da conspecifici. Il presente studio ha l’obiettivo di indagare se e come l’attivazione corticospinale del muscolo dell’osservatore implicato nell’azione osservata venga modulata in base all’osservazione di un qualsiasi movimento (es. rotazione della mano), o se tale modulazione sia associata alla osservazione di un movimento transitivo (es. afferramento di un oggetto con la mano). Abbinando la Stimolazione Magnetica Transcanica a singolo impulso (spTMS) della corteccia motoria primaria alla registrazione dei relativi Potenziali Evocati Motori (MEP) nei muscoli della mano corrispondenti, abbiamo evidenziato una maggiore attivazione corticospinale durante l’osservazione di movimenti intransitivi rispetto ai movimenti transitivi. Il presente studio ha dimostrato che i movimenti inusuali - come una mano che ruota su se stessa - potrebbero richiedere una maggiore attivazione del MNS per riconoscere e apprendere il nuovo pattern motorio. Tali risultati potrebbero rivelarsi utili nell’ambito dell’Action Observation Therapy (AOT), una delle migliori terapie neuro riabilitative attualmente in uso per il recupero motorio e funzionale degli arti in pazienti affetti da ictus.
Studio di TMS sull'eccitabilità corticospinale durante l'osservazione di azioni transitive e intransitive
RIELLO, MATTIA
2022/2023
Abstract
The mirror neuron system (MNS) is one of the largest discoveries of the last century. Their discharge mechanism is activated both in execution of a motor act and during the observation of the same action performed by other thing, because in both cases there is the same motor cortical representation. This discovery, done originally in monkeys, it was the starting point for further research in humans, in which has been shown that the MNS is also activated during the observation of actions performed by conspecific. The present study aim to investigate if and how corticospinal activation of the observer's muscle involved in the observed action is modulated on the basis of the observation of any behavior, or whether such modulation is associated with observation of a specific object or objective. Combining the Single-puls Trascranial Magnetic Stimulation(spTMS) of primary motor cortex to the recording of related Motor Evoked Potentials (MEP) in hand muscles, we have highlighted a increased motor activation during the observation of intransitive movements compared to transitive movements. The present study showed that unusual movements - such as a hand spinning on itself - may require greater activation of the MNS to recognize and learn the new motor pattern. These results could be useful in the field of Action Observation Therapy (AOT), one of the best neuro therapies rehabilitation currently in use for motor and functional recovery of limbs in patients suffering from stroke.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/45246