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PubMed1998

Mirror writing in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if examination of mirror writing in the elderly could be used to assess the degradation of the brain function. METHODS: The occurrence of mirror writing in 146 subjects was examined. Among them, 104 were males and 42 females. All subjects were university graduates. Age ranged from 40 to 85 years with an average of 62.7 +/- 13.4. These subjects were divided into two groups, a non-elderly group consisting of 60 subjects (41.1%) and an elderly group 86 subjects (58.9%). All 146 subjects were examined with 10 items for determination of handedness, mini-mental state examination and the written language of Chinese Aphasia Examination Scale (Draft) including spontaneous writing, writing from dictation and copying. The above mentioned performances of written language were done by left and right hand. RESULTS: The results of examination revealed that in 146 subjects there were 7 subjects with mirror writing, which occurred only in the elderly group, accounting for 8.1%. In the elderly group, mirror writing was found in one subject of 70-79 years group and 6 subjects of age over 80 years. Mirror writing appeared in the elderly was of mild degree with an average percentage of 1.9 +/- 0.4. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that examination of mirror writing in the elderly may be used to assess the degradation of the brain function in senile subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

[The mirror broke : Oedipe has aged, Beginning of a reflection on aging and otherness.].

The "mirror phase" is characterized by a child's recognition of his own image in the mirror and simultaneous perception of approval by the adult, whose reflection is equally discovered. In contrast to this phase, we identify an experience that takes place in old age: the experience referred to in this article as the < >, which occurs when the image reflected by the mirror no longer matches the expectations of the subject. This experience raises doubts concerning non only the relation of the subject with himself, but also with the other, who, ever since the "mirror phase", has supported the subject's identity. Encountering alterity, the process of discovering one's self as different and of confronting an other with whom similarities no longer hold true, is the crux of the "shattered mirror' ' experience and the basis for uprooting narcissist complacency. The dynamics of alterity therefore favour revealment (illustrated by the tragedy of "Oedipe à Colone", while the outcome of the "shattered mirror" experience ranges between distress and reduced alienation.

English Abstract↗
PubMed1989

[A further study and discussion on mirror writing and the development of the Chinese written language].

Mirror image writing was done in 72 preschool children, 40 school children, 40 normal adults and 37 stroke patients with or without aphasia. The results showed that total mirror image writing was demonstrated in only one case and partial mirror image writing in 62 (32.8%). The cases of mirror image writing with the left hand in the preschool children, school children, normal adults and patients with stroke were found in 45.8%, 10.0%, 2.5% and 24.3% respectively. The relationship between mirror image writing and left or right hand disorientation and that between mirror image writing and visual aid were observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Behavior of young children with Down syndrome before the mirror: exploration.

Exploratory behaviors of Down Syndrome (DS) and Nondelayed (ND) young children between the mental ages of 16 and 32 months were examined in 4 situations involving finding things seen in a large standing mirror: free play, marked face, finding the reflected mother, and finding a reflected toy. Behaviors coded from videotape included observing the self making faces, kissing the mirror, patting the mirror, comparing a person or object with the mirror image, looking behind the mirror, touching own body, and staring at another's image. Both ND and DS children used these behaviors and were able to adapt their choice of behaviors to demands of particular tasks. However, DS and ND children differed in number, type, and frequency of exploratory behaviors. DS children used a greater variety of behaviors and used them more frequently than ND children. DS children used a less focused selection of behaviors, and behaviors involving switching attention were performed only by ND children. For most behavior examined, mental and chronological age were not related to amount of exploration. Results are interpreted in terms of the role of different behaviors in exploration of the mirror.

Body Image↗
PubMed2006

Mechanisms underlying mirror movements in Parkinson's disease: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study.

The neural mechanisms underlying unintended mirror movements (MMs) of one hand during unimanual movements of the other hand in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are largely unexplored. Here we used surface electromyographic (EMG) analysis and focal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to investigate the pathophysiological substrate of MMs in four PD patients. Surface EMG was recorded from both abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscles. Cross-correlation EMG analysis revealed no common motor drive to the two APBs during intended unimanual tasks. Focal TMS of either primary motor cortex (M1) elicited normal motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in the contralateral APB, whereas MEPs were not seen in the ipsilateral hand. During either mirror or voluntary APB contraction, focal TMS of the contralateral M1 produced a long-lasting silent period (SP), whereas stimulation of the ipsilateral M1 produced a short-lasting SP. During either mirror or voluntary finger tapping, 5 Hz repetitive TMS (rTMS) of the contralateral M1 disrupted EMG activity in the target FDI, whereas the effects of rTMS of the ipsilateral M1 were by far slighter. During either mirror or voluntary APB contraction, paired-pulse TMS showed a reduction of short-interval intracortical inhibition in the contralateral M1. These findings provide converging evidence that, in PD, MMs do not depend on unmasking of ipsilateral projections but are explained by motor output along the crossed corticospinal projection from the mirror M1.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Mirror writing and handedness.

It has been reported that left-handed subjects are better able to write in mirror-reversed script than right-handers (Tankle & Heilman, 1983). Vaid and Stiles Davis (1989) conducted studies which led them to contradict the supposed superiority of left-handers in this area. In these studies, left as well as right-handed subjects were examined under normal- and mirror-writing conditions. Both examinations included the analysis of writing time and the accuracy of mirror writing (error rates). Using a digitizing tablet, we examined normal- and mirror-writing performance of left-handers, right-handers, and left-handed subjects who habitually write with their right hand. Our results support the finding of Tankle and Heilman (1983) that left-handers perform better in mirror-writing tasks.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Validation of a modified mirrored chamber sensitive to anxiolytics and anxiogenics in mice.

RATIONALE: Anxiety is a common disorder in humans that exists in many forms, and animal models of human anxiety are typically employed for the discovery of anxiolytic drugs with human therapeutic potential. OBJECTIVES: Ideally, animal models of anxiety are validated for the detection of both anxiogenic and anxiolytic effects, but most animal models can effectively only measure anxiolytic-like effects. As control animals typically spend small amounts of time in the aversive portion of an apparatus, decreases in time spent in this portion are difficult to detect. METHODS: We have modified an existing test of murine anxiety, the mirrored chamber, and have validated this test using several anxiolytic and anxiogenic drugs. In addition, nine mouse strains were compared on the elevated plus maze and modified mirrored chamber. RESULTS: Increasing doses of ethanol, diazepam, and pentobarbital produced an anxiolytic-like profile while pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), D-amphetamine, and methyl-6, 7-dimethoxyl-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (DMCM) appeared anxiogenic. This modified test also dissociated drug effects on anxiety from those on activity for d-amphetamine and diazepam. The inbred mouse strains tested produced a similar range of scores for time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus maze and voluntary reentry time in the mirrored chamber, with an overall genetic correlation of 0.68. CONCLUSIONS: Since control animals reliably reentered the more aversive portion of the apparatus for 25% of the total time available, the modified mirrored chamber may be able to detect anxiogenic states produced by various stressors and drug withdrawal. Further, the strain differences detected suggest that the modified mirrored chamber will be a valuable tool in the discovery of the genetic bases of anxiety states and disorders.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Effort-induced mirror movements. A study of transcallosal inhibition in humans.

During sustained, fatiguing maximal voluntary contraction of muscles of one hand, muscles of the other hand gradually become activated also. Such effort-induced mirror movements indicate a decreased ability of the central nervous system (CNS) to selectively control individual muscles. We studied whether altered transcallosal inhibition (TCI) contributed to this phenomenon. TCI was determined in ten healthy subjects by measuring the ipsilateral silent period (iSP) and the contralateral silent period (cSP) during a sustained contraction of the abductor digiti minimi, induced by focal unihemispheric ipsilateral transcranial magnetic stimulation. Mirror movements occurred in all subjects in response to the effort. There was a bilateral increase in cSPs and a parallel increase in the iSP in the contralateral working muscle. In contrast, the iSP in the mirroring muscle remained unchanged, explained by a balance of increased crossed pyramidal inhibition (cSP) and decreased transcallosal inhibition. In finely tuned unimanual movements, mirroring activity of the contralateral hand is suppressed by TCI originating in the working hemisphere. During sustained, effortful contractions, the outflow of the contralateral hemisphere is increased due to reduced TCI. Effort-induced mirror contractions are thus the result of disinhibition of contralateral crossed projections rather than disinhibition of ipsilateral uncrossed pathways.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Multiple mirror-like intracranial aneurysms. Report of a case and review of the literature.

While multiple intracranial arterial aneurysms occur in 26.4% of patients with aneurysms, in our practice bilateral mirror-like aneurysms are encountered in 9.4% of patients. Multiple mirror aneurysms in the same patient are exceedingly rare. We report a case of mirror-like middle cerebral artery aneurysms associated with mirror-like posterior inferior cerebellar arteries aneurysms and discuss their significance. Although an exceptional finding, multiple mirror-like aneurysms may shed light on the vulnerability of different arterial segments to specific diseases.

Cerebellum↗
PubMed1987

Road junction convex mirrors.

Lateral visibility at road junctions can be improved by a convex mirror. Mainly in built-up areas, where visibility on one or both sides of an intersection may be hampered by space limitations, such a device is attractive because of its low cost and its actuated operating mode. However, little information is yet available concerning its efficiency and optimisation. The usefulness of a convex mirror from a safety viewpoint is experimentally assessed in a road junction where drivers who have to give way can observe lateral traffic through a convex mirror. Comparison is made between mirror users and non-users, in relation to their give way behaviour. The main finding is that the mirror appears as a device that enhances safety behaviour and can be recommended as a traffic aid.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1981

Comparative study of aminopyridine-induced seizure activities in primary and mirror foci of cat's cortex.

Epileptogenic activity was induced by topical application of 3-Ap on the somatosensory cortex of anaesthetized cats. Surface epileptiform events were recorded and single cell activity was studied with intracellular electrodes both in the primary and in the mirror focus. Surface records showed that soon after the onset of paroxysmal activity in the primary focus, an epileptic mirror focus developed with variable delay. After MnCl2 treatment of the primary focus, the mirror focus generated independent epileptic events. In the primary and in the mirror focus 122 neurones were recorded intracellularly during seizure activity. Different firing patterns were observed. In the primary focus 31% and in the mirror focus 28% of the recorded neurones generated PDSs. The firing of the neurones in both foci was often phase-locked with surface waves. PDSs usually occurred asynchronously with the surface activity. Ionic mechanisms which may underlie the effect of 3-Ap are discussed.

Aminopyridines↗
PubMed1987

Congenitally corrected transposition with mirror-image atrial arrangement.

Congenitally corrected transposition (discordant atrioventricular and ventriculoarterial connexions) with mirror-image atrial arrangement is much less frequent than the same chamber combinations in the setting of usual atrial arrangement. This scarcity of cases has made their analysis difficult. In this study we have compared the anomalies found in 19 patients with congenitally corrected transposition in mirror-image arrangement with those in 39 patients having usual atrial arrangement. Absolute, relative and attributable risks were calculated for the presence of subvalvar pulmonary stenosis, ventricular septal defect, tricuspid regurgitation, atrioventricular block or the absence of these anomalies for each of the two groups. A greater absolute risk was found for both subvalvar pulmonary stenosis (68.4 vs. 43.6%, respectively) and ventricular septal defect (63.2 vs. 58.9%, respectively). The absolute risk for tricuspid regurgitation was 25.6% in those with usual arrangement as against 21.1% in those with mirror-image arrangement. Atrioventricular block was also more frequent in those with usual arrangement (25.6 vs. 10.5%) as was absence of associated cardiac defects (17.9 vs. 10.5%, respectively). The relative risks were greater for subvalvar pulmonary stenosis and ventricular septal defect in the patients with mirror-image as opposed to usual atrial arrangement (1.57: 1.00 and 1.07: 1.00, respectively), contrasting with greater relative risk for tricuspid regurgitation (1.26: 1.00), atrioventricular block (2.43: 1.00) and absence of associated anomalies (1.70: 1.00) in the patients with usual arrangement. The attributable risk for subvalvar pulmonary stenosis was estimated to be 24.8% and ventricular septal defect 4.3% for those having mirror-image atrial arrangement.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic↗
PubMed1996

Stretch reflexes of the proximal arm in a patient with mirror movements: absence of bilateral long-latency components.

The stretch reflex responses evoked by unilateral limb displacement in distal (first dorsal interosseus (FDI)) and in proximal (biceps brachii (Bb)) arm muscles were studied during matched bilateral contractions in a patient with congenital mirror movements. In this patient unilateral transcortical magnetic stimulation (TMS) elicited not only the normal contralateral EMG response but also a clear ipsilateral component in the EMG of both proximal and distal arm muscles. As expected from previous studies, the ipsilateral FDI muscle responded to stretch of the index finger with short- (M1) and long-latency (M2) reflex components. In addition, the FDI contralateral to displacement exhibited an abnormal mirrored response corresponding to the M2 interval. In contrast, whereas the ipsilateral Bb responded to imposed elbow extension with a marked M1/M2 reflex response, no mirroring of either reflex component was apparent in the contralateral Bb EMG. If the mirroring of the M2 in the FDI is accepted as evidence for the transcortical nature of the M2 reflex response, then it follows that the absence of such mirroring in the Bb indicates that a transcortical mechanism cannot play a major role in the generation of long-latency stretch reflex responses in proximal arm muscles.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Mirror versus stationary cross feedback in controlling the center of foot pressure displacement in quiet standing in elderly subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of mirror feedback on postural control during quiet standing in elderly adults. DESIGN: Before and after intervention trials. SETTING: Pneumology center in France. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven elderly adults (mean age, 70.7+/-4.6 y; mean body weight, 64.5+/-15.0 kg; mean height, 161.4+/-12.0 cm). INTERVENTIONS: Participants were asked to stand upright, as immobile as possible, in 2 eyes-open and mirror-feedback conditions. The latter experimental condition consisted of supplying the subjects with their frontal reflection by positioning a mirror in front of them. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Foot center of pressure (COP) displacements in the mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) directions were recorded using a force platform. RESULTS: The mirror-feedback condition had different effects on postural sway, depending on the direction: range, variability, and maximal instantaneous speed of the COP displacements decreased in the ML direction, whereas these effects remained unchanged in the AP direction. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided evidence that mirror feedback may put elderly adults at lower risk of falling.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Observing complex action sequences: The role of the fronto-parietal mirror neuron system.

A fronto-parietal mirror neuron network in the human brain supports the ability to represent and understand observed actions allowing us to successfully interact with others and our environment. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we wanted to investigate the response of this network in adults during observation of hierarchically organized action sequences of varying complexity that emerge at different developmental stages. We hypothesized that fronto-parietal systems may play a role in coding the hierarchical structure of object-directed actions. The observation of all action sequences recruited a common bilateral network including the fronto-parietal mirror neuron system and occipito-temporal visual motion areas. Activity in mirror neuron areas varied according to the motoric complexity of the observed actions, but not according to the developmental sequence of action structures, possibly due to the fact that our subjects were all adults. These results suggest that the mirror neuron system provides a fairly accurate simulation process of observed actions, mimicking internally the level of motoric complexity. We also discuss the results in terms of the links between mirror neurons, language development and evolution.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

A comparison of risk factors in the etiology of mirror and nonmirror multiple intracranial aneurysms.

BACKGROUND: Pure mirror intracranial aneurysms represent a subgroup of multiple aneurysm patients where a congenital predisposition may play a major etiologic role. The aim of this study was to compare the pattern of prevalence of known risk factors for aneurysm disease between pure mirror and pure nonmirror multiple aneurysm populations. METHODS: Clinical records of all patients with multiple intracranial aneurysms admitted to our institution between January 1985 and September 2001 were reviewed. Age, localization of aneurysms, gender, and history of cigarette smoking or hypertension were noted and compared using Fisher's exact test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: There were 33 patients presented with pure mirror aneurysms (MirAn) and 49 with nonmirror multiple aneurysms (nMirAn). Average age of rupture occurred in the 5th decade in both groups. Female:male ratio was 3.1:1 in MirAn; 2.1:1 in nMirAn. In MirAn patients younger than 40 years it was 1:1. Smoking was the most prevalent risk factor in nMirAn (59.2%). In MirAn this was true only for patients in the 5th or 6th decades (65%), and hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor over that age (62.5%). A total of 80% of mirror aneurysm patients under 40 years had no known extrinsic risk factor, compared with 20% in nMirAn (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Differences in the relative prevalence of risk factors between both groups supports the hypothesis of a different etiologic process occurring in mirror aneurysm disease. Early rupture in patients with no extrinsic risk factors lends support to the role of a congenital predisposition over degenerative causes in these patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Perception of mirror symmetry in amblyopic vision.

Mirror symmetry is ubiquitous in natural visual scenes, and detection of mirror symmetry seems to be a global, automatic, effortless and important aspect of visual perception. The perception of mirror symmetry has not been studied in humans with amblyopia. In this paper we measured and quantified the detection of mirror symmetry in adults with naturally occurring amblyopia. Our results show that amblyopia may severely impair the detection of mirror symmetry, and that this impairment is not simply a consequence of reduced stimulus visibility. Rather, we suggest that this loss may reflect, at least in part, a deficit in the integration of local orientation information.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Multiple reference frames in neglect? An investigation of the object-centred frame and the dissociation between "near" and "far" from the body by use of a mirror.

In this single case study of a man (AE) who suffered a right hemisphere stroke we showed the co-existence of neglect within different spatial frames: (a) In left hemispace and (b) in 'far' versus 'near' space, both as defined from the patient's viewpoint, as well as (c) for the left side of an object (as defined from an object-centred view). In the experiment, AE's latencies to name the colour of two cubes, each located in one hemispace, were measured. In some conditions, the cubes were placed on a table but in other conditions each cube was held in one hand of an experimenter who could either face the patient or show the cubes while her back was turned towards him. One prediction was that AE would show longer latencies for cubes in left hemispace; however, if object-centred neglect also occurred, then latencies should be even longer for cubes held in the experimenter's left hand. In order to reveal the presence of neglect for 'far' versus 'near' space, the cubes could also be positioned either near to (i.e. reaching distance) or far from the patient (i.e., several metres out of reach), by moving the table or the experimenter. Finally, in some conditions, AE looked at the cubes into a mirror that was positioned far away from his body. Because external objects seen in a mirror can be 'near' the patient's body, the patient actually looked at a 'far' location (i.e. the surface of the mirror) to see an object that is 'near'. The experiment confirmed the presence of all forms of neglect, since AE not only named the colour of a cube seen in his left hemispace more slowly than in right hemispace, but latencies increased for a cube held by the experimenter in her left hand and in left hemispace (both when the left hand was seen directly or as a mirror reflection). Finally, AE's performance was worse for 'far' than 'near' locations, when the cubes were physically located near his body (i.e., within "grasping" space) but seen in the mirror.

Analysis of Variance↗