Cited by 30Action Observation and SynchronizationFace Recognition and PerceptionNeural dynamics and brain function

Mu rhythm suppression is associated with the classification of emotion in faces

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Moore, Matthew R., Franz, Elizabeth A.·2017·Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience

Abstract

The mirror neuron system (MNS) has been mooted as a crucial component underlying human social cognition. Initial evidence based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) suggests that the MNS plays a role in emotion classification, but further confirmation and convergent evidence is needed. This study employed electroencephalography (EEG) to examine modulations in the mu rhythm associated with the inference of emotions from facial expressions. It was hypothesised that mu suppression would be associated with classifying the emotion portrayed by facial expressions. Nineteen participants viewed pictures of facial expressions or emotion words and were asked to either match the stimulus to an emotion word or to passively observe. Mu activity following stimulus presentation was localised using a 3-D distributed inverse solution, and compared between conditions. Subtractive logic was used to isolate the specific processes of interest. Comparisons of source localisation images between conditions revealed that there was mu suppression associated with recognising emotion from faces, thereby supporting our hypothesis. Further analyses confirmed that those effects were not due to activity associated with the motor response or the observation of facial expressions, offering further support for the hypotheses. This study provides important convergent evidence for the involvement of the MNS in the inference of emotion from facial expressions.

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Authors
Moore, M. R., & Franz, E. A.
Affiliations
University of Otago (NZ)
Corresponding author
  • Moore, Matthew R.
  • Franz, Elizabeth A.
Venue
Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience
Published
2016-11-04
Volume
17
Issue
1
Pages
224-234
ISSN
  • 1530-7026 (ISSN-L)
  • 1531-135X
OpenAlex
W2547268386
Cited by
30
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
FWCI
3.67
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
University of Otago
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
Keywords
mu rhythm suppression, mirror neuron system, emotion recognition, facial expressions, social cognition, emotion classification, source localization, motor response, emotional words
MeSH terms
Facial Recognition, Adolescent, Adult, Brain, Emotions, Female, Humans, Judgment, Male, Motor Activity, Neuropsychological Tests, Photic Stimulation, Reaction Time, Reading, Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted, Software, Young Adult, Brain Waves

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