Neurophysiological mechanisms underlying action observation treatment for upper limb stroke rehabilitation: A mini-review

 Your competent? doctor has been providing EXACT ACTION OBSERVATION PROTOCOLS for well over a decade already, right? NO? So, incompetent then?

action observation (144 posts to May 2011)

Do you prefer your doctor, hospital and board of director's incompetence NOT KNOWING? OR NOT DOING? Your choice; let them be incompetent or demand action!

Neurophysiological mechanisms underlying action observation treatment for upper limb stroke rehabilitation: A mini-review

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106484

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Highlights

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  Action Observation Treatment (AOT) promotes motor recovery in stroke survivors.
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  During AOT the Mirror Neuron System becomes finely tuned.
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  Cerebellar and subcortical mechanisms are involved in action imitation.
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  Recovery in stroke patients following AOT involves cortical and subcortical circuits.
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  Innovative personalized AOT interventions include Virtual Reality and Neurofeedback.

Abstract

Action Observation Treatment (AOT) has been demonstrated to promote motor recovery in stroke survivors. This approach consists in the observation of goal-directed actions, followed by their imitation. AOT exploits the functional properties of the Mirror Neuron System (MNS), which activates motor representations during the observation of others’ actions, thereby triggering a process known as “motor resonance”. This mechanism enhances corticospinal excitability, supporting neural plasticity. During AOT, the MNS becomes finely tuned, promoting neuroplastic changes crucial for motor recovery. However, the cortico-cerebellar and subcortical mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of this treatment are unclear. In this review, we describe first the theoretical background of AOT, discussing the key concepts of motor resonance and imitation-based learning. Second, we focus on the cortico-cerebellar and subcortical circuits crucial in the modulation of MNS activity during imitation. Third, we summarize current evidence regarding the neural circuits potentially involved in post-AOT recovery in stroke patients. In the final part, we outline future research directions, proposing personalized interventions based on Virtual Reality and Neurofeedback to maximize treatment efficacy.(But you didn't create protocols; SO FUCKING USELESS RESEARCH! You're fired!)