We want to demonstrate that inferring the state of mind of someone else on the basis of his/her actions requires the integrity of both the ventral premotor cortex (which is part of the mirror neuron system involved in motor simulation), and the…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Other condition
Synonym
Health condition
research with health volunteers
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Evaluation of the ability to understand action kinematics and mental states
after virtual lesions to the vPMC or TPJ measured by the number of correct
responses (2 answer possibilities) in separate behavioral tasks.
Secondary outcome
n.a.
Background summary
We know that the re-enactment of observed actions in the putative Mirror Neuron
System (pMNS) is necessary to understand the kinematics of observed actions
(e.g. to decide whether someone is going to succeed hammering a nail in the
wall). However, it is unknown whether the pMNS is also necessary to understand
the state of mind of someone else from observing the other person's actions
(e.g. to decide whether she is confident that she will succeed hammering the
nail?). Furthermore, it is not known whether or not the Theory of Mind network
is necessary to understand the state of mind of someone else when all the
information is contained in the kinematics of the other person's action.
Study objective
We want to demonstrate that inferring the state of mind of someone else on the
basis of his/her actions requires the integrity of both the ventral premotor
cortex (which is part of the mirror neuron system involved in motor
simulation), and the temporo-parietal junction (which is a pivotal node of the
Theory of Mind network).
Study design
We will use rTMS (with 1Hz stimulation at 90% of the motor threshold) in order
to transiently disrupt the ventral pre-motor cortex (vPMC) and the
temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) of healthy subjects, and will measure the
impact of these virtual lesions on the ability of the participants to perform
three tasks: (1) detecting the state of mind of an actor on the basis of her
movements, (2) detecting the goal of the actor on the basis of the action
kinematics, (3) detecting a letter on the t-shirt of the actor as control
condition. Every participant will undergo three rTMS sessions, taking place on
three different days with stimulation to either the vPMC, the TPJ, or at the
vertex (control site). Prior to the rTMS sessions, the participants will also
perform an fMRI test that will permit to determine precisely the location of
the areas to be targeted during rTMS.
Study burden and risks
The experiment will not entail more than minimal risk to the participants.
There is a chance that subjects experience transient headache, local pain, neck
pain, toothache or paresthesia. The risk of seizure and transient acute
hypomania induction is rare. Hearing changes are rated as being possible.
Reports about structural brain changes and histotoxicity are inconsistent
[Rossi et al.2009]. The burden associated with cognitive tests is minimal. The
division of the study into four separate sessions will provide sufficient rest
periods for the subjects and minimize the number of applied stimulations per
day. Similar stimulation protocols have been safely applied to healthy
volunteers in numerous studies [Rossi et al.2009]. The infliction of transient
virtual lesions with TMS is the only available method to investigate which
brain areas are actually necessary to perform a given task in healthy subjects.
The study is not intended to benefit the participants directly. However, the
results of this study could greatly contribute to our understanding of the
cerebral mechanisms that support the ability that humans have to understand
each other*s, an ability which is thought to be essentially disrupted in autism
spectrum conditions.
Antonius Deusinglaan 2
Groningen 9713 AW
NL
Antonius Deusinglaan 2
Groningen 9713 AW
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
1. Healthy males and females 2. 18 years old or older 3. Normal vision and hearing 4. Right-handedness (through questionnaire: Edinburgh Handedness Inventory)
Exclusion criteria
1. left-handedness or ambidexterity 2. drug or alcohol abuse 3. (history of) significant medical, psychiatric or neurological conditions 4. history of head injury with loss of consciousness 5. metal in cranium or body 6. epilepsy or family history of epilepsy 7. cardiac pacemaker 8. infarcations 9. implanted medical pump 10. intracardiac lines 11. history of psychiatric illness (Axis 1, DSM IV) 12. claustrophobia 13. MR incompatible implants in the body 14. Any risk of having metal particles in the eyes 15. Tattoos containing red pigments
16. The refusal to be informed about structural brain abnormalities 17. (suspected) pregnancy
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL41377.042.12 |