Department of General and Social Psychiatry, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, Militärstrasse 8, POB 1930, 8021 Zürich, Switzerland.
Brain Imaging Behav. 2013 Mar;7(1):28-34. doi: 10.1007/s11682-012-9189-9.
Yawning is contagious. However, little research has been done to elucidate the neuronal representation of this phenomenon. Our study objective was to test the hypothesis that the human mirror neuron system (MNS) is activated by visually perceived yawning. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess brain activity during contagious yawning (CY). Signal-dependent changes in blood oxygen levels were compared when subjects viewed videotapes of yawning faces as opposed to faces with a neutral expression. In response to yawning, subjects showed unilateral activation of their Brodmann's area 9 (BA 9) portion of the right inferior frontal gyrus, a region of the MNS. In this way, two individuals could share physiological and associated emotional states based on perceived motor patterns. This is one component of empathy (motor empathy) that underlies the development of cognitive empathy. The BA 9 is reportedly active in tasks requiring mentalizing abilities. Our results emphasize the connection between the MNS and higher cognitive empathic functions, including mentalizing. We conclude that CY is based on a functional substrate of empathy.
打哈欠具有传染性。然而，目前针对这一现象的神经学表现，相关研究还很少。我们的研究目的是验证人类镜像神经元系统（MNS）是否会因观察到的打哈欠而被激活。我们使用功能性磁共振成像来评估大脑在传染性打哈欠（CY）时的活动。当受试者观看打哈欠的人脸视频与中性表情的人脸视频时，我们比较了血氧水平信号的变化。在观察到打哈欠时，受试者右侧下额叶的布罗德曼 9 区（BA9）表现出单侧激活，这是 MNS 的一部分。通过这种方式，两个人可以基于感知到的运动模式共享生理和相关的情绪状态。这是同理心（运动同理心）的一个组成部分，它是认知同理心发展的基础。据报道，BA9 在需要心理化能力的任务中很活跃。我们的研究结果强调了 MNS 与包括心理化在内的更高认知同理心功能之间的联系。我们的结论是，CY 是基于同理心的功能基础。
