From music making to speaking: Engaging the mirror neuron system in autism

Brain Research Bulletin

Volumn 82, Issue 3-4, 2010, Pages 161-168

  Wan, Catherine Y ^a   Demaine, Krystal ^a   Zipse, Lauryn ^a,b   Norton, Andrea ^a   Schlaug, Gottfried ^a  

^a HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL   (United States)

^b MGH INSTITUTE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS   (United States)

Author keywords

Auditory motor mapping training; Autism; Brain; Language; Mirror neuron system; Music

Indexed keywords

AUTISM; BRAIN FUNCTION; BRAIN MAPPING; COGNITION; COMMUNICATION DISORDER; COMMUNICATION SKILL; ELECTROMYOGRAPHY; GRAY MATTER; HUMAN; INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION; LANGUAGE PROCESSING; MAGNETOENCEPHALOGRAPHY; MIRROR NEURON SYSTEM; MORPHOMETRICS; MOTOR PERFORMANCE; MOTOR SYSTEM; MUSIC; NERVE CELL NETWORK; PITCH; PRIORITY JOURNAL; QUALITY OF LIFE; REVIEW; SENSORIMOTOR INTEGRATION; SOCIAL ADAPTATION; SOCIAL INTERACTION; SPEECH; SPEECH ARTICULATION; SPEECH DISORDER; SPEECH THERAPY; TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION; VOCALIZATION; LANGUAGE; MOTOR ACTIVITY; NERVE CELL; PATHOPHYSIOLOGY; PHYSIOLOGY; PSYCHOMOTOR PERFORMANCE; SOCIAL BEHAVIOR;

AUTISTIC DISORDER; HUMANS; LANGUAGE; MOTOR ACTIVITY; MUSIC; NEURONS; PSYCHOMOTOR PERFORMANCE; SOCIAL BEHAVIOR; SPEECH;

EID: 77953538069     PISSN: 03619230     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2010.04.010     Document Type: Review

References (120)

1. Albert M.L., Sparks R.W., Helm N.A. Melodic intonation therapy for aphasia. Arch. Neurol. 1973, 29:130-131.
2. Allen R., Hill E., Heaton P. 'Hath charms to soothe ...' An exploratory study of how high-functioning adults with ASD experience music. Autism 2009, 13:21-41.
3. American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IVTR) 2000, American Psychiatric Press, Inc., Washington, DC.
4. Applebaum E., Egel A.L., Koegel R.L., Imhoff B. Measuring musical abilities of autistic-children. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 1979, 9:279-285.
5. Arbib M.A. From grasp to language: embodied concepts and the challenge of abstraction. J. Physiol. Paris 2008, 102:4-20.
6. Arbib M.A. From monkey-like action recognition to human language: an evolutionary framework for neurolinguistics. Behav. Brain Sci. 2005, 28:105-124.
7. Bangert M., Altenmuller E.O. Mapping perception to action in piano practice: a longitudinal DC-EEG study. BMC Neurosci. 2003, 4:26.
8. Bangert M., Peschel T., Schlaug G., Rotte M., Drescher D., Hinrichs H., Heinze H.J., Altenmuller E. Shared networks for auditory and motor processing in professional pianists: evidence from fMRI conjunction. Neuroimage 2006, 30:917-926.
9. Baron-Cohen S., Leslie A.M., Frith U. Does the autistic-child have a theory of mind?. Cognition 1985, 21:37-46.
10. Barsalou L.W. Perceptions of perceptual symbols. Behav. Brain Sci. 1999, 22:637-660.
11. Baumann S., Koeneke S., Schmidt C.F., Meyer M., Lutz K., Jäncke L.A. A network for audio-motor coordination in skilled pianists and non-musicians. Brain Res. 2007, 1161:65-78.
12. Bonnel A., Mottron L., Peretz I., Trudel M., Gallun E., Bonnel A.M. Enhanced pitch sensitivity in individuals with autism: a signal detection analysis. J. Cogn. Neurosci. 2003, 15:226-235.
13. Boulenger V., Roy A.C., Paulignan Y., Deprez V., Jeannerod M., Nazir T.A. Cross-talk between language processes and overt motor behavior in the first 200ms of processing. J. Cogn. Neurosci. 2006, 18:1607-1615.
14. Brenton J.N., Devries S.P., Barton C., Minnich H., Sokol D.K. Absolute pitch in a four-year-old boy with autism. Pediatr. Neurol. 2008, 39:137-138.
15. Brown S., Martinez M.J., Hodges D.A., Fox P.T., Parsons L.M. The song system of the human brain. Brain Res. Cogn. Brain Res. 2004, 20:363-375.
16. Brown W.A., Cammuso K., Sachs H., Winklosky B., Mullane J., Bernier R., Svenson S., Arin D., Rosen-Sheidley B., Folstein S.E. Autism-related language, personality, and cognition in people with absolute pitch: results of a preliminary study. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 2003, 33:163-167.
17. Buccino G., Binkofski F., Fink G.R., Fadiga L., Fogassi L., Gallese V., Seitz R.J., Zilles K., Rizzolatti G., Freund H.J. Action observation activates premotor and parietal areas in a somatotopic manner: an fMRI study. Eur. J. Neurosci. 2001, 13:400-404.
18. Buccino G., Lui F., Canessa N., Patteri I., Lagravinese G., Benuzzi F., Porro C.A., Rizzolatti G. Neural circuits involved in the recognition of actions performed by nonconspecifics: an fMRI study. J. Cogn. Neurosci. 2004, 16:114-126.
19. Buccino G., Riggio L., Melli G., Binkofski F., Gallese V., Rizzolatti G. Listening to action-related sentences modulates the activity of the motor system: a combined TMS and behavioral study. Brain Res. Cogn. Brain Res. 2005, 24:355-363.
20. Buday E.M. The effects of signed and spoken words taught with music on sign and speech imitation by children with autism. J. Music Ther. 1995, 32:189-202.
21. Catmur C., Walsh V., Heyes C. Sensorimotor learning configures the human mirror system. Curr. Biol. 2007, 17:1527-1531.
22. Charlop M.K., Haymes L.K. Speech and language acquisition and intervention: behavioral approaches. Autism in Children and Adults: Etiology, Assessment, and Intervention 1994, 234-246. Wadsworth Publishing. J.L. Matson (Ed.).
23. Dapretto M., Davies M.S., Pfeifer J.H., Scott A.A., Sigman M., Bookheimer S.Y., Iacoboni M. Understanding emotions in others: mirror neuron dysfunction in children with autism spectrum disorders. Nat. Neurosci. 2006, 9:28-30.
24. D'Ausilio A., Altenmueller E., Belardinelli M.O., Lotze M. Cross-modal plasticity of the motor cortex while listening to a rehearsed musical piece. Eur. J. Neurosci. 2006, 24:955-958.
25. Dipellegrino G., Fadiga L., Fogassi L., Gallese V., Rizzolatti G. Understanding motor events-a neurophysiological study. Exp. Brain. Res. 1992, 91:176-180.
26. Draganski B., Gaser C., Busch V., Schuierer G., Bogdahn U., May A. Neuroplasticity: changes in grey matter induced by training-newly honed juggling skills show up as a transient feature on a brain-imaging scan. Nature 2004, 427:311-312.
27. Escalona A., Field T.M., Nadel J., Lundy B. Brief report: imitation effects on children with autism. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 2002, 32:141-144.
28. Fadiga L., Craighero L., Buccino G., Rizzolatti G. Speech listening specifically modulates the excitability of tongue muscles: a TMS study. Eur. J. Neurosci. 2002, 15:399-402.
29. Fadiga L., Fogassi L., Pavesi G., Rizzolatti G. Motor facilitation during action observation-a magnetic stimulation study. J. Neurophysiol. 1995, 73:2608-2611.
30. Field T.M., Field T., Sanders C., Nadel J. Children with autism display more social behaviors after repeated imitation sessions. Autism 2001, 5:317-323.
31. Francis K. Autism interventions: a critical update. Dev. Med. Child Neurol. 2005, 47:493-499.
32. Gallese V., Fadiga L., Fogassi L., Rizzolatti G. Action recognition in the premotor cortex. Brain 1996, 119:593-609.
33. Gallese V., Lakoff G. The brain's concepts: the role of the sensory-motor system in conceptual knowledge. Cogn. Neuropsychol. 2005, 22:455-479.
34. Gangitano M., Mottaghy F.M., Pascual-Leone A. Phase-specific modulation of cortical motor output during movement observation. Neuroreport 2001, 12:1489-1492.
35. Gaser C., Schlaug G. Gray matter differences between musicians and nonmusicians. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 2003, 999:514-517.
36. Gentilucci M. Object motor representation and language. Exp. Brain. Res. 2003, 153:260-265.
37. Gentilucci M., Benuzzi F., Bertolani L., Daprati E., Gangitano M. Language and motor control. Exp. Brain. Res. 2000, 133:468-490.
38. Gentilucci M., Stefanini S., Roy A.C., Santunione P. Action observation and speech production: study on children and adults. Neuropsychologia 2004, 42:1554-1567.
39. Hadjikhani N. Mirror neuron system and autism. Progress in Autism Research 2007, 151-166. Nova Science Publishing Inc. P.C. Carlisle (Ed.).
40. Hadjikhani N., Joseph R.M., Snyder J., Tager-Flusberg H. Anatomical differences in the mirror neuron system and social cognition network in autism. Cereb. Cortex 2006, 16:1276-1282.
41. Hairston M. Analyses of responses of mentally retarded autistic and mentally retarded nonautistic children to art therapy and music therapy. J. Music Ther. 1990, 27:137-150.
42. Hamilton A.F.D., Brindley R.M., Frith U. Imitation and action understanding in autistic spectrum disorders: how valid is the hypothesis of a deficit in the mirror neuron system?. Neuropsychologia 2007, 45:1859-1868.
43. Hasegawa T., Matsuki K.I., Ueno T., Maeda Y., Matsue Y., Konishi Y., Sadato N. Learned audio-visual cross-modal associations in observed piano playing activate the left planum temporale. An fMRI study. Brain Res. Cogn. Brain Res. 2004, 20:510-518.
44. Haslinger B., Erhard P., Altenmuller E., Schroeder U., Boecker H., Ceballos-Baumann A.O. Transmodal sensorimotor networks during action observation in professional pianists. J. Cogn. Neurosci. 2005, 17:282-293.
45. Haueisen J., Knosche T.R. Involuntary motor activity in pianists evoked by music perception. J. Cogn. Neurosci. 2001, 13:786-792.
46. Hauk O., Johnsrude I., Pulvermuller F. Somatotopic representation of action words in human motor and premotor cortex. Neuron 2004, 41:301-307.
47. Hauk O., Pulvermuller F. Neurophysiological distinction of action words in the fronto-central cortex. Hum. Brain Mapp. 2004, 21:191-201.
48. Heaton P. Pitch memory, labelling and disembedding in autism. J. Child Psychol. Psychiatr. Allied Discip. 2003, 44:543-551.
49. Heaton P., Allen R. " With concord of sweet sounds ..." New perspectives on the diversity of musical experience in autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Neurosciences and Music Iii: Disorders and Plasticity 2009, vol. 1169. pp. 318-325.
50. Heaton P., Allen R., Williams K., Cummins O., Happe F. Do social and cognitive deficits curtail musical understanding? Evidence from autism and Down syndrome. Br. J. Dev. Psychol. 2008, 26:171-182.
51. Heaton P., Hermelin B., Pring L. Autism and pitch processing: a precursor for savant musical ability?. Music Percept. 1998, 15:291-305.
52. Heaton P., Pring L., Hermelin B. Musical processing in high functioning children with autism. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 2001, 930:443-444.
53. Hebert S., Racette A., Gagnon L., Peretz I. Revisiting the dissociation between singing and speaking in expressive aphasia. Brain 2003, 126:1-13.
54. Hill E.L. Evaluating the theory of executive dysfunction in autism. Dev. Rev. 2004, 24:189-233.
55. Hoelzley P.D. Communication potentiating sounds: developing channels of communication with autistic children through psychobiological responses to novel sound stimuli. Can. J. Music Ther. 1993, 1:54-76.
56. Hoskins C. Use of music to increase verbal response and improve expressive language abilities of preschool language delayed children. J. Music Ther. 1988, 25:73-84.
57. Iacoboni M., Dapretto M. The mirror neuron system and the consequences of its dysfunction. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 2006, 7:942-951.
58. Kanner L. Child psychiatry-mental deficiency. Am. J. Psychiatry 1943, 99:608-610.
59. Kaplan R.S., Steele A.L. An analysis of music therapy program goals and outcomes for clients with diagnoses on the autism spectrum. J. Music Ther. 2005, 42:2-19.
60. Kasari C., Sigman M., Yirmiya N. Focused and social attention of autistic-children in interactions with familiar and unfamiliar adults-a comparison of autistic, mentally-retarded, and normal-Children. Dev. Psychopathol. 1993, 5:403-414.
61. Keith R.L., Aronson A.E. Singing as therapy for apraxia of speech and aphasia: report of a case. Brain Lang. 1975, 2:483-488.
62. Kern P., Aldridge D. Using embedded music therapy interventions to support outdoor play of young children with autism in an inclusive community-based child care program. J. Music Ther. 2006, 43:270-294.
63. Kim J., Wigram T., Gold C. The effects of improvisational music therapy on joint attention behaviors in autistic children: a randomized controlled study. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 2008, 38:1758-1766.
64. B. Kleber, R. Veit, N. Birbaumer, J. Gruzelier, M. Lotze, The brain of opera singers: experience-dependent changes in functional activation, Cereb. Cortex 20 (2010) 1144-1152.
65. Klin A. Attributing social meaning to ambiguous visual stimuli in higher-functioning autism and asperger syndrome: the social attribution task. J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 2000, 41:831-846.
66. Knott F., Lewis C., Williams T. Sibling interaction of children with learning-disabilities-a comparison of autism and downs-syndrome. J. Child Psychol. Psychiatr. Allied Discip. 1995, 36:965-976.
67. Koelsch S., Gunter T.C., von Cramon D.Y., Zysset S., Lohmann G., Friederici A.D. Bach speaks: a cortical " language-network" serves the processing of music. Neuroimage 2002, 17:956-966.
68. Koelsch S., Gunter T.C., Wittfoth M., Sammler D. Interaction between syntax processing in language and in music: an ERP study. J. Cogn. Neurosci. 2005, 17:1565-1577.
69. Lahav A., Saltzman E., Schlaug G. Action representation of sound: audiomotor recognition network while listening to newly acquired actions. J. Neurosci. 2007, 27:308-314.
70. Liberman A.M., Mattingly I.G. The motor theory of speech perception revised. Cognition 1985, 21:1-36.
71. Lord C., Risi S., Lambrecht L., Cook E.H., Leventhal B.L., DiLavore P.C., Pickles A., Rutter M. The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: a standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 2000, 30:205-223.
72. Lord C., Rutter M., Lecouteur A. Autism diagnostic interview-revised-a revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 1994, 24:659-685.
73. Meister I.G., Buelte D., Staedtgen M., Boroojerdi B., Sparing R. The dorsal premotor cortex orchestrates concurrent speech and fingertapping movements. Eur. J. Neurosci. 2009, 29:2074-2082.
74. Meister I.G., Krings T., Foltys H., Boroojerdi B., Müller M., Töpper R., Thron A. Playing piano in the mind-an fMRI study on music imagery and performance in pianists. Brain Res. Cogn. Brain Res. 2004, 19:219-228.
75. Miller S.B., Toca J.M. Adapted melodic intonation therapy-case-study of an experimental language program for an autistic-child. J. Clin. Psychiatry 1979, 40:201-203.
76. Neville H.J., Bavelier D. Effects of auditory and visual deprivation on human brain development. Clin. Neurosci. Res. 2001, 1:248-257.
77. Newmeyer A.J., Grether S., Grasha C., White J., Akers R., Aylward C., Ishikawa K., deGrauw T. Fine motor function and oral-motor imitation skills in preschool-age children with speech-sound disorders. Clin. Pediatr. 2007, 46:604-611.
78. Nishitani N., Avikainen S., Hari R. Abnormal imitation-related cortical activation sequences in Asperger's syndrome. Ann. Neurol. 2004, 55:558-562.
79. Norton A., Zipse L., Marchina S., Schlaug G. Melodic intonation therapy: how it is done and why it might work. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 2009, 1169:431-436.
80. Oberman L.M., Ramachandran V.S. Preliminary evidence for deficits in multisensory integration in autism spectrum disorders: the mirror neuron hypothesis. Soc. Neurosci. 2008, 3:348-355.
81. Oberman L.M., Ramachandran V.S. The simulating social mind: the role of the mirror neuron system and simulation in the social and communicative deficits of autism spectrum disorders. Psychol. Bull. 2007, 133:310-327.
82. Oberman L.M., Ramachandran V.S., Pineda J.A. Modulation of mu suppression in children with autism spectrum disorders in response to familiar or unfamiliar stimuli: The mirror neuron hypothesis. Neuropsychologia 2008, 46:1558-1565.
83. Overy K., Molnar-Szakacs I. Being together in time: musical experience and the mirror neuron system. Music Percept. 2009, 26:489-504.
84. Ozdemir E., Norton A., Schlaug G. Shared and distinct neural correlates of singing and speaking. Neuroimage 2006, 33:628-635.
85. Patel A.D., Gibson E., Ratner J., Besson M., Holcomb P.J. Processing syntactic relations in language and music: an event-related potential study. J. Cogn. Neurosci. 1998, 10:717-733.
86. Pellicano E. Links between theory of mind and executive function in young children with autism: clues to developmental primacy. Dev. Psychol. 2007, 43:974-990.
87. Perra O., Williams J.H.G., Whiten A., Fraser L., Benzie H., Perrett D.I. Imitation and 'theory of mind' competencies in discrimination of autism from other neurodevelopmental disorders. Res. Autism Spectrum Disord. 2008, 2:456-468.
88. Peterson C.C. Mind and body: concepts of human cognition, physiology and false belief in children with autism or typical development. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 2005, 35:487-497.
89. Pickett E., Pullara O., O'Grady J., Gordon B. Speech acquisition in older nonverbal individuals with autism: a review of features, methods, and prognosis. Cogn. Behav. Neurol. 2009, 22:1-21.
90. Prizant B.M., Wetherby A.M. Communication in preschool autistic children. Preschool Issues in Autism 1993, 95-114. Plenum, New York. E. Schopler, M. Bourgondien, M. Bristol (Eds.).
91. Pulvermuller F. Brain mechanisms linking language and action. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 2005, 6:576-582.
92. Ramachandran V.S., Oberman L.M. Broken mirrors-a theory of autism. Sci. Am. 2006, 295:62-69.
93. Rizzolatti G., Arbib M.A. Language within our grasp. Trends Neurosci. 1998, 21:188-194.
94. Rizzolatti G., Fabbri-Destro M., Cattaneo L. Mirror neurons and their clinical revelance. Nat. Clin. Prac. Neurol. 2009, 5:24-34.
95. Rizzolatti G., Fadiga L., Gallese V., Fogassi L. Premotor cortex and the recognition of motor actions. Brain Res. Cogn. Brain Res. 1996, 3:131-141.
96. Rizzolatti G., Fogassi L., Gallese V. Neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the understanding and imitation of action. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 2001, 2:661-670.
97. Sadato N., PascualLeone A., Grafman J., Ibanez V., Deiber M.P., Dold G., Hallett M. Activation of the primary visual cortex by Braille reading in blind subjects. Nature 1996, 380:526-528.
98. Schlaug G., Marchina S., Norton A. Evidence for plasticity in white matter tracts of chronic aphasic patients undergoing intense intonation-based speech therapy. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 2009, 1169:385-394.
99. Schlaug G., Marchina S., Norton A. From singing to speaking: why patients with Broca's aphasia can sing and how that may lead to recovery of expressive language functions. Music Percept. 2008, 25:315-323.
100. Schon D., Magne C., Besson M. The music of speech: music training facilitates pitch processing in both music and language. Psychophysiology 2004, 41:341-349.
101. Sigman M., Ruskin E. Continuity and change in the social competence of children with autism, Down syndrome, and developmental delays. Monogr. Soc. Res. Child Dev. 1999, 64:1-63.
102. Skipper J.I., Nusbaum H.C., Small S.L. Lending a helping hand to hearing: another motor theory of speech perception. Action to Language Via the Mirror Neuron System 2006, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, MA. M.A. Arbib (Ed.).
103. Sluming V., Barrick T., Howard M., Cezayirli E., Mayes A., Roberts N. Voxel-based morphometry reveals increased gray matter density in Broca's area in male symphony orchestra musicians. Neuroimage 2002, 17:1613-1622.
104. Sparks R., Helm N., Albert M. Aphasia rehabilitation resulting from melodic intonation therapy. Cortex 1974, 10:303-316.
105. Stephens C.E. Spontaneous imitation by children with autism during a repetitive musical play routine. Autism 2008, 12:645-671.
106. Tager-Flusberg H. Current theory and research on language and communicatiuon in autism. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 1996, 26:169-172.
107. Tager-Flusberg H. Language acquisition and theory of mind: contributions from the study of autism. Research on Communication and Language Disorders: Contributions to Theories of Language Development 1997, Pauk Brookes Publishing, Baltimore. L.B. Adamson, M.A. Romski (Eds.).
108. Tager-Flusberg H. Language and understanding minds: connections in autism. Understanding Other Minds: Perspectives from Autism and Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience 2000, 124-149. Oxford University Press, Oxford. S. Baron-Cohen, H. Tager-Flusberg, D.J. Cohen (Eds.).
109. Thaut M.H. Measuring musical responsiveness in autistic-children-a comparative-analysis of improvized musical tone sequences of autistic, normal, and mentally-retarded individuals. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 1988, 18:561-571.
110. Theoret H., Halligan E., Kobayashi M., Fregni F., Tager-Flusberg H., Pascual-Leone A. Impaired motor facilitation during action observation in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Curr. Biol. 2005, 15:R84-R85.
111. Tillmann B., Janata P., Bharucha J.J. Activation of the inferior frontal cortex in musical priming. Brain Res. Cogn. Brain Res. 2003, 16:145-161.
112. Trevarthen C., Aitken K., Paoudi D., Robarts J. Children with Autism 1996, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.
113. Vanvuchelen M., Roeyers H., De Weerdt W. Nature of motor imitation problems in school-aged boys with autism-a motor or a cognitive problem?. Autism 2007, 11:225-240.
114. Wan C., Zipse L., Norton A., Demaine K., Baars R., Zuk J., Bazen L., Schlaug G. Using an auditory-motor mapping therapy to improve expressive language abilities in nonverbal children with autism. Proceedings of the 8th Annual Auditory Perception, Cognition, and Action Meeting 2009.
115. Watkins K.E., Strafella A.P., Paus T. Seeing and hearing speech excites the motor system involved in speech production. Neuropsychologia 2003, 41:989-994.
116. Wigram T. Indications in music therapy: evidence from assessment that can identify the expectations of music therapy as a treatment for autistic spectrum disorder (ASD): meeting the challenge of evidence based practice. Br. J. Music Ther. 2002, 16:11-28.
117. Williams J.H.G., Whiten A., Singh T. A systematic review of action imitation in autistic spectrum disorder. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 2004, 34:285-299.
118. Williams J.H.G., Whiten A., Suddendorf T., Perrett D.I. Imitation, mirror neurons and autism. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 2001, 25:287-295.
119. Wilson S.M., Saygin A.P., Sereno M.I., Iacoboni M. Listening to speech activates motor areas involved in speech production. Nat. Neurol. 2004, 7:701-702.
120. Wing L. Autistic Children 1985, Constable Publishers, London.