Neural Circuits Involved in the Recognition of Actions Performed by Nonconspecifics: An fMRI Study

• DOI: 10.1162/089892904322755601
• Publication Date: 2004-02-07T06:19:08Z
• Authors: Giovanni Buccino; Fausta Lui; Nicola Canessa; Ilaria Patteri; Giovanna Lagravinese; Francesca Benuzzi; Carlo A. Porro; Giacomo Rizzolatti
• Keywords: Biological neural network

Functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess the cortical areas active during observation of mouth actions performed by humans and individuals belonging other species (monkey dog). Two types were presented: biting oral communicative (speech reading, lip-smacking, barking). As a control, static images same shown. Observation biting, regardless individual performing action, determined two activation foci (one rostral one caudal) in inferior parietal lobule an pars opercularis frontal gyrus adjacent ventral premotor cortex. The left focus (possibly BA 40) very similar all three conditions, while right side stronger made conspecifics. speech reading activated gyrus, lip-smacking small bilaterally, barking did not produce any lobe. induced extrastriate occipital areas. These results suggest that may be recognized through different mechanisms. Actions motor repertoire observer (e.g., reading) are mapped on observer's system. do belong this barking) essentially based their visual properties. We propose when representation observed action is activated, gains knowledge "personal" perspective, perspective lacking there no activation.