1. Brain stimulation used as biofeedback in neuronal activation of the temporal lobe area in autistic children.
- Author
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Silva VF, Calomeni MR, Nunes RA, Pimentel CE, Martins GP, Oliveira Pda C, Silva PB, and Silva AP
- Subjects
- Brain Mapping, Case-Control Studies, Child, Electroencephalography, Facial Expression, Humans, Autistic Disorder physiopathology, Biofeedback, Psychology physiology, Emotions physiology, Mirror Neurons physiology, Photic Stimulation methods, Temporal Lobe physiopathology
- Abstract
This study focused upon the functional capacity of mirror neurons in autistic children. 30 individuals, 10 carriers of the autistic syndrome (GCA), 10 with intellectual impairments (GDI), and 10 non-autistics (GCN) had registered eletroencephalogram from the brain area theoretically related to mirror neurons. Data collection procedure occurred prior to brain stimulation and after the stimulation session. During the second session, participants had to alternately process figures evoking neutral, happy, and/or sorrowful feelings. Results proved that, for all groups, the stimulation process in fact produced additional activation in the neural area under study. The level of activation was related to the format of emotional stimuli and the likelihood of boosting such stimuli. Since the increase of activation occurred in a model similar to the one observed for the control group, we may suggest that the difficulty people with autism have at expressing emotions is not due to nonexistence of mirror neurons.
- Published
- 2016
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