Our ability to infer other individuals' emotions is central for successful social interactions. Based on the theory of embodied simulation, our mirror neuron system (MNS) provides the essential link between the observed facial configuration of another individual and our inference of the emotion by means of common neuronal activation. However, so far it is unknown, whether the MNS differentiates the valence of facial configurations. To increase the precision of our fMRI measurement, we used an adaptation design, which allows insights into whether the same neuronal population is active for subsequent stimuli of facial configurations. 76 participants were shown congruent, or incongruent consecutive pairs of facial configurations expressing fear or happiness. Significant activation for changes in emotional valence from adaptor to target was revealed in fusiform gyrus, superior temporal sulcus, amygdala, insula, inferior parietal lobe and Brodmann area 44. In addition, activation change was higher in superior temporal sulcus, insula and inferior frontal gyrus for a switch from happiness to fear than for fear to happiness. Our results suggest an involvement of the MNS in valence discrimination, and a higher sensitivity of the MNS to negative than positive valence. These findings point to a role of the MNS that goes beyond the mere coding of a motor state.

中文翻译：

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功能磁共振成像适应显示：人的镜像神经元系统区分情绪化合价。

我们推断他人情感的能力对于成功的社交互动至关重要。基于体现模拟的理论，我们的镜像神经元系统（MNS）通过共同的神经元激活，在观察到的另一个人的面部构造与我们的情绪推断之间提供了必要的联系。然而，到目前为止，尚不清楚MNS是否能区分面部构造的化合价。为了提高fMRI测量的精度，我们使用了一种适应设计，该设计可以洞察同一神经元群体是否对随后的面部构造刺激有效。76名参与者被证明表达恐惧或幸福的面部轮廓完全一致或不一致。梭状回，颞上沟，杏仁核，岛上，顶叶下壁和Brodmann区域显示出从配体到目标的情绪价变化的显着激活。此外，颞上沟，岛上和额下回的激活变化更高。从幸福到恐惧的转变比从恐惧到幸福的转变。我们的研究结果表明，MNS参与了价歧视，并且MNS对负价的敏感性高于正价。这些发现表明，MNS的作用不仅限于运动状态的编码。从幸福到恐惧的转变，而不是从恐惧到幸福的绝热和下额回。我们的研究结果表明，MNS参与了价歧视，并且MNS对负价的敏感性高于正价。这些发现表明，MNS的作用不仅限于运动状态的编码。从幸福到恐惧的转变，而不是从恐惧到幸福的绝热和下额回。我们的研究结果表明，MNS参与了价歧视，并且MNS对负价的敏感性高于正价。这些发现表明，MNS的作用不仅限于运动状态的编码。