EEG mu suppression which differentiates self from others are correlated with empathic abilities

Abstract

Previous studies have indicated that the sense of the “self” is associated with specific brain regions and neural network activity. Moreover, it has been reported that the mirror neuron system, which functions when executing or observing actions, might contribute to differentiating self from others and forming the basis of the sense of self. However, little is known to date about how the mirror neuron system, which reacts to both self and others’ actions, contributes to differentiating oneself from others. This study examined the characteristics of self-oriented activity in mirror neuron system signals using stimuli facilitating self-discrimination from others. The EEG resulting from observing hand movements of the self and another person were examined from the first-person and the third-person perspectives. The results indicated that mu suppression, which is an index of mirror neuron system activity, increased for the self from the first-person perspective, suggesting that mu suppression might reflect the difference between self and others. Conversely, the mu suppression's variations in self-other orientation increased in the third-person perspective, suggesting that individual differences in response orientation might be correlated with empathetic perspective-taking skills.