Electrophysiological manifestations of mirror visual feedback during manual movement

• MVF affects the inter-hemispheric balance, as shown in low-beta range analysis.
• MVF seems to recruit the mirror-neuron system, as shown in low-mu range analysis.
• MVF affects the dominant and non-dominant hand differentially.

ObjectiveTo investigate the neurophysiological manifestations of the mechanism underlying the effects of Mirror Visual Feedback (MVF) during manual movement.MethodThirteen healthy right handed individuals were assessed while performing repeated unilateral wrist extension movements with and without MVF. The effect of MVF on EEG oscillations was studied in 3 distinct frequency ranges (low mu, high mu, low beta).ResultsAnalysis of the low beta range showed that MVF reduces the magnitude of event-related de-synchronization (ERD) in the hemisphere contra-lateral to the moving hand. This effect reached significance when the moving hand was the dominant hand. In the analysis of the low mu range, bi-hemispheric amplification of ERD by the mirror pointed to an added effect of neural recruitment. This effect reached significance when the moving hand was the non-dominant hand.ConclusionsMVF applied during unilateral manual movement (a) attenuates hemispheric activation asymmetry, and (b) is likely to involve recruitment of the mirror neuron system.SignificanceAs each of the above two effects reached significance only in one hand (dominant and non-dominant, respectively), clinical application of MVF might show a different level of efficacy in the treatment of right and left hemiparesis.