Online chasing action recruits both mirror neuron and mentalizing systems: A pilot fNIRS study.

Autor: Zhang P; Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China., Feng S; Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China., Zhang Q; Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China., Chen Y; Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China., Liu Y; Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China., Liu T; School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China., Bai X; Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: bxuejun@126.com., Yin J; Department of Psychology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China. Electronic address: yinjun1@nbu.edu.cn.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Acta psychologica [Acta Psychol (Amst)] 2024 Aug; Vol. 248, pp. 104363. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jun 21.
DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104363
Abstrakt: Engaging in chasing, where an actor actively pursues a target, is considered a crucial activity for the development of social skills. Previous studies have focused predominantly on understanding the neural correlates of chasing from an observer's perspective, but the neural mechanisms underlying the real-time implementation of chasing action remain poorly understood. To gain deeper insights into this phenomenon, the current study employed functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) techniques and a novel interactive game. In this interactive game, participants (N = 29) were tasked to engage in chasing behavior by controlling an on-screen character using a gamepad, with the goal of catching a virtual partner. To specifically examine the brain activations associated with the interactive nature of chasing, we included two additional interactive actions: following action of following the path of a virtual partner and free action of moving without a specific pursuit goal. The results revealed that chasing and following actions elicited activation in a broad and overlapping network of brain regions, including the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), premotor cortex (PMC), primary somatosensory cortex (SI), and primary motor cortex (M1). Crucially, these regions were found to be modulated by the type of interaction, with greater activation and functional connectivity during the chasing interaction than during the following and free interactions. These findings suggested that both the MNS, encompassing regions such as the PMC, M1 and SI, and the mentalizing system (MS), involving the TPJ and mPFC, contribute to the execution of online chasing actions. Thus, the present study represents an initial step toward future investigations into the roles of MNS and MS in real-time chasing interactions.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as potential conflicts of interest.
(Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz: