Improved positive imitation performance after FISL is mediated by increased MNS neural pattern similarity and MNS–OFC informational connectivity¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r1 · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? A parallel mediation analysis found significant total and direct effects of repetitive FISL on positive imitation performance, mediated by MNS NPS and MNS–OFC IC. → Qi Liu 2025

Evidence¶

Qi Liu 2025¶

Qi Liu, Siyu Zhu, Can Liu, Yanmiao Yang, Chunmei Lan, Xinwei Song, Benjamin Becker, Keith M. Kendrick, Xinqi Zhou & Weihua Zhao. (2025). Neural signals gradually shift towards inferior frontal gyrus and long-term effects following facial imitation-based social learning. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00372-9

q2 · i? · causal · r1

Parallel mediation analysis in R (version 4.2.3) using improved MNS NPS (fNIRS) and MNS–OFC informational connectivity (fMRI) as mediators: total effect path c = 2.265 (p = 0.018), direct effect c' = 2.010 (p = 0.037), and "the improvement in positive imitative learning performance by repetitive FISL was mediated by NPS of the MNS"; only the MNS–OFC pathway among tested IC paths was significant.

"the improvement in positive imitative learning performance by repetitive FISL was mediated by NPS of the MNS (indirect effect 1 = 0.834, 95% CI = [0.312, 1.443])"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Long-term FISL increases informational connectivity between the MNS/IFG and social-cognition and reward regions during positive face perception — a broader claim this one bears on
• Neural pattern similarity within the MNS increases across FISL sessions, more for positive emotions, and tracks behavioral improvement — related
• Imitative learning performance improves across repeated FISL sessions, with a positive-emotion advantage over negative emotions — related
• Early-phase FISL improves whole-process imitation performance while late-phase FISL selectively speeds successful imitation of positive emotions — related
• Long-term FISL improves fMRI-based classification of emotional faces but not emotional scenes — related
• Information flow within the MNS progressively shifts toward IFG dominance over repeated FISL sessions — related