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Cited by 99Action Observation and SynchronizationSchizophrenia research and treatmentMental Health and Psychiatry

Altered brain activation during action imitation and observation in schizophrenia: a translational approach to investigating social dysfunction in schizophrenia

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Thakkar, Katharine N., Peterman, Joel S., Park, Sohee·2014·American Journal of Psychiatry
DOI 10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13040498PMC PMC4578626
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Social impairments are a key feature of schizophrenia, but their underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Imitation, a process through which we understand the minds of others, involves the so-called mirror neuron system, a network comprising the inferior parietal lobe, inferior frontal gyrus, and posterior superior temporal sulcus. The authors examined mirror neuron system function in schizophrenia. METHOD: Sixteen medicated schizophrenia patients and 16 healthy comparison subjects performed an action imitation/observation task during functional MRI. Participants saw a video of a moving hand or spatial cue and were instructed to either execute finger movements associated with the stimulus or simply observe. Activation in the mirror neuron system was measured during imitative versus nonimitative actions and observation of a moving hand versus a moving spatial cue. These contrasts were compared across groups. RESULTS: Activation in the mirror neuron system was less specific for imitation in schizophrenia. Relative to healthy subjects, patients had reduced activity in the posterior superior temporal sulcus during imitation and greater activity in the posterior superior temporal sulcus and inferior parietal lobe during nonimitative action. Patients also showed reduced activity in these regions during action observation. Mirror neuron system activation was related to symptom severity and social functioning in patients and to schizotypal syndrome in comparison subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Given the role of the inferior parietal lobe and posterior superior temporal sulcus in imitation and social cognition, impaired imitative ability in schizophrenia may stem from faulty perception of biological motion and transformations from perception to action. These findings extend our understanding of social dysfunction in schizophrenia.

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  • Earlier studies failed to account for general cognitive, motor, or emotional impairments linked to schizophrenia.

    “However, previous studies assessed either voluntary imitation [7][8][9][10][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] or automatic imitation of emotional stimuli 12,13,32,33 while not controlling for the cognitive, motoric, and/or emotional deficits associated with the disorder.”

    From Enhanced Automatic Action Imitation and Intact Imitation-Inhibition in Schizophrenia (2019) · cites this paper as [13]

    The paper’s Discussion (page not available in our copy) says its groups were matched on IQ and made the same number of movements, addressing gross cognitive differences and motor output. Its Method also compares imitation with nonimitative action. Thus, the claim that this study failed to control for those deficits conflicts with the source; the task did not use emotional stimuli. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Earlier work on imitation in schizophrenia used either voluntary imitation tasks or automatic imitation of emotional stimuli.

    “However, previous studies assessed either voluntary imitation [7][8][9][10][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] or automatic imitation of emotional stimuli 12,13,32,33 while not controlling for the cognitive, motoric, and/or emotional deficits associated with the disorder.”

    From Enhanced Automatic Action Imitation and Intact Imitation-Inhibition in Schizophrenia (2019) · cites this paper as [13]

    The Method > Experimental Paradigm describes instructed finger movements, supporting this paper as an example of voluntary imitation. But Method > Data Analysis compares imitative with nonimitative actions, and Results checks movement completion and timing; the claim that this study did not control for motoric deficits is therefore not supported. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The dose-imitation link agrees with earlier reports of greater mirror neuron system activity at higher antipsychotic doses or during antipsychotic treatment.

    “The association between higher antipsychotic medication dose and increased imitation tendency is consistent with findings of increased MNS activity when receiving higher doses of antipsychotic medication 13 or when being on antipsychotic medication (compared to off).22”

    From Enhanced Automatic Action Imitation and Intact Imitation-Inhibition in Schizophrenia (2019) · cites this paper as [13]

  • Those earlier studies found that medication made neural activity resemble that of healthy controls, which was interpreted as therapeutic.

    “In these studies, medication was associated with activity more similar to that of the healthy controls, suggesting a therapeutic effect.”

    From Enhanced Automatic Action Imitation and Intact Imitation-Inhibition in Schizophrenia (2019) · cites this paper as [13]

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Authors
Thakkar, K. N., Peterman, J. S., & Park, S.
Affiliations
Vanderbilt University (US)
ORCID
Venue
American Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
American Psychiatric Association Publishing
Published
2014-05
Volume
171
Issue
5
Pages
539-548
ISSN
  • 0002-953X (ISSN-L)
  • 1535-7228
DOI
10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13040498
PMC
PMC4578626
OpenAlex
W2077351019
Cited by
99
References
40
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 7
FWCI
18.77
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
  • National Institute of Mental Health (F31MH085405, F31-MH085405-01, R01MH073028, MH073028)
  • National Center for Research Resources (RR024975, UL1RR024975, RR024975‐01)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Mental Health and Psychiatry
Keywords
schizophrenia, mirror neuron system, action imitation, action observation, social dysfunction, social cognition, posterior superior temporal sulcus, inferior parietal lobule, inferior frontal gyrus, biological motion perception, perception-action coupling, schizotypy, symptom severity, social functioning
MeSH terms
Adult, Brain, Brain Mapping, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Imitative Behavior, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Psychomotor Performance, Schizophrenia, Schizophrenic Psychology, Social Adjustment, Antipsychotic Agents, Mirror Neurons

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