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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 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?
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
Supramodal Representation Emotional expression Primary perceptions Emotional State Actions Action Control
Supramodal representation • Memories • Experience • Motor skills • Modulates emotion and action • Both perception and action
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
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
Modified model for imitation Training signal Premotor cortex + Observed behaviour ‘Mirror’ neuron system Orbitofrontal cortex-Amygdala Effect or motor command Behavioural Consequences
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.
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
What can we do? • Imitation training • Social skills training • Explicit feedback-based behavioural modification (coaching) • Focussed at the right representational level.
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
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