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Mirror neurons and autism

Mirror neurons and autism. Time to be thinking about therapy?. Justin H G Williams, University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Normal development How might mirror neurons be involved? Why might problems become manifest with autism? What can be done to help?.

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Mirror neurons and autism

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  1. Mirror neurons and autism Time to be thinking about therapy? Justin H G Williams, University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

  2. Normal development • How might mirror neurons be involved? • Why might problems become manifest with autism? • What can be done to help?

  3. In earlier writings Piaget talked about “autistic intelligence” • Undirected intelligence • Inwardly directed • Not concerned with relationships with others • Independent of others influences • Becomes socialised with age

  4. Supramodal Representation Emotional expression Primary perceptions Emotional State Actions Action Control

  5. Supramodal representation • Memories • Experience • Motor skills • Modulates emotion and action • Both perception and action

  6. Normal motor learning: the dynamic inverse model of motor control action previously learnt to achieve desired effects Training signal + Enactor Desired outcome Cross-modal translation: sensory error measure used to generate training signal in motor domain Calculates mismatch Wolpert et al., Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 1998, 2 338-347 Effect or motor command Behaviour

  7. Imitation (Oztop and Arbib, 2002) Training signal Premotor cortex + Parietal Cortex mirror neurons Desired trajectory Premotor ‘Mirror neurons’ Observed Action Effect or motor command Actual trajectory

  8. Modified model for imitation Training signal Premotor cortex + Observed behaviour ‘Mirror’ neuron system Orbitofrontal cortex-Amygdala Effect or motor command Behavioural Consequences

  9. Mirror neuron system • Crucial for developing feedback modification learning. • Serves to modify behaviour in response to others’ behaviour as well as own. • Allows for development of complex representational systems that modulate emotion and behaviour.

  10. Impaired mirror neuron system in autism • Probably not a mirror neuron deficit as such. • ? Poor development of connectivity e.g white matter problems • ? Poor plasticity of learning system • ? Abnormal connectivity with other structures e.g. orbitofrontal cortex

  11. What can we do? • Imitation training • Social skills training • Explicit feedback-based behavioural modification (coaching) • Focussed at the right representational level.

  12. Increase plasticity? • TMS or tDCS • Apply electrical field to cortex • tDCS = 1.5v (1x AA battery) for 20 minutes • rTMS = high strength magnetic field to very small area of cortex. • ? Drugs such as methylphenidate

  13. For references and more, see: Williams J.H.G. (2008). Self-other matching and comparison in autism and social development: multiple roles for mirror neurons and other brain bases Autism Research (1,73-90) A Standard British Plug

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