Functional integration of mirror neuron system and sensorimotor cortex under virtual self-actions visual perception

Virtual reality (VR) technology, with the advantage of immersive visual experience, has been increasingly applied in the rehabilitation therapy of motor deficits. The functional integration of the mirror neuron system and the sensorimotor cortex under the visual perception of actions is one of the theoretical bases for the application of action observation in the neurorehabilitation of motor deficits. Whether the visual experience changes brought by VR technology can further promote this functional integration to be further confirmed. Using the exact low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA) source localization method, we calculated and statistically tested the whole brain cortical voxel current density estimation under the Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals collected during action observation under the first-person and third-person perspectives in the VR scene for twenty healthy adults. Furthermore, the functional connectivity between the mirror neuron system and the sensorimotor cortex was analyzed using the lagged phase synchronization method. Under the first-person perspective in the VR scene, the current density changes of the core cortices of the mirror neuron system lead to a larger average event-related potential, more significant suppression in the alpha 1 and alpha 2 frequency bands of EEG signals, and a significant enhancement of functional connectivity between the core cortices of the mirror neuron system and the sensorimotor cortex. These findings indicate that compared with the traditional action observation, the visual reappearance of self-actions in the VR scene further stimulates the activity of the core cortices of the mirror neuron system, and promotes the functional integration of the core cortices of the mirror neuron system and the sensorimotor cortex.

Automated summary

Virtual reality technology is increasingly used in the rehabilitation therapy of motor deficits. This study used eLORETA and lagged phase synchronization methods to investigate the brain electrical signals and functional connectivity during action observation in a virtual reality scene. The results showed that visual reappearance of self-actions in the virtual reality scene can stimulate the activity of core cortices of the mirror neuron system and promote their functional integration with the sensorimotor cortex.