pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Hebbian learning and predictive mirror neurons for actions, sensations and emotions - PubMed

  • ️Wed Jan 01 2014

Review

Hebbian learning and predictive mirror neurons for actions, sensations and emotions

Christian Keysers et al. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2014.

Abstract

Spike-timing-dependent plasticity is considered the neurophysiological basis of Hebbian learning and has been shown to be sensitive to both contingency and contiguity between pre- and postsynaptic activity. Here, we will examine how applying this Hebbian learning rule to a system of interconnected neurons in the presence of direct or indirect re-afference (e.g. seeing/hearing one's own actions) predicts the emergence of mirror neurons with predictive properties. In this framework, we analyse how mirror neurons become a dynamic system that performs active inferences about the actions of others and allows joint actions despite sensorimotor delays. We explore how this system performs a projection of the self onto others, with egocentric biases to contribute to mind-reading. Finally, we argue that Hebbian learning predicts mirror-like neurons for sensations and emotions and review evidence for the presence of such vicarious activations outside the motor system.

Keywords: Hebbian learning; active inference; mind-reading; mirror neurons; projection; vicarious activations.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.

Temporal asymmetry of spike-timing-dependent plasticity.

Figure 2.
Figure 2.

(a) Applying 10 paired pre- and postsynaptic stimulations leads to significant potentiation of the synapse. (b) Intermixing 10 unpaired, postsynaptic stimulations only cancels the potentiation. (c) Applying 10 unpaired stimulations after 10 paired also cancels potentiation. (d) Delaying the unpaired stimulations by 15 or 50 min preserves the potentiation of the 10 paired trials. The presynaptic stimulation is shown as a curve to represent the excitatory postsynaptic potential that arrives in the postsynaptic neuron, the postsynaptic stimulation as a vertical bar to represent an action potential. Adapted from Bauer et al. [17]; epsp, excitatory postsynaptic potential.

Figure 3.
Figure 3.

(a) In the real world, the execution of an action and the sight and sound of each phase of an action occur at the same time, and one might therefore predict that corresponding phases in the sensory and motor domain would become associated. (b) Instead, latencies shift the responses in the STS relative to the premotor (PM) neurons, and Hebbian learning at a fine temporal scale predicts associations between subsequent phases, i.e. predictions. (c) Inhibitory feedback from PM to STS is also subjected to Hebbian learning and generates prediction errors in the emerging dynamic system (d). (Online version in colour.)

Figure 4.
Figure 4.

Seeing a human perform an action (a) leads to activations in the mirror system (b) that resembles the activity during the execution of similar actions by a human (c). Seeing a robot perform similar actions (d) generates a pattern of activity in the mirror system (e) that is very different from the pattern of activity that caused the robot to act (f), but resembles that which the human viewer would use to perform a similar action (c). Panels (a–e) adapted from Gazzola et al. [65]. (Online version in colour.)

Similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. di Pellegrino G, Fadiga L, Fogassi L, Gallese V, Rizzolatti G. 1992. Understanding motor events: a neurophysiological study. Exp. Brain Res. 91, 176–180. (10.1007/BF00230027) - DOI - PubMed
    1. Gallese V, Fadiga L, Fogassi L, Rizzolatti G. 1996. Action recognition in the premotor cortex. Brain 119, 593–609. (10.1093/brain/119.2.593) - DOI - PubMed
    1. Keysers C, Kohler E, Umilta MA, Nanetti L, Fogassi L, Gallese V. 2003. Audiovisual mirror neurons and action recognition. Exp. Brain Res. 153, 628–636. (10.1007/s00221-003-1603-5) - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kohler E, Keysers C, Umilta MA, Fogassi L, Gallese V, Rizzolatti G. 2002. Hearing sounds, understanding actions: action representation in mirror neurons. Science 297, 846–848. (10.1126/science.1070311) - DOI - PubMed
    1. Hickok G. 2013. Do mirror neurons subserve action understanding? Neurosci. Lett. 540, 56–58. (10.1016/j.neulet.2012.11.001) - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources