Goal directed movements require the activation of parietal, premotor and primary motor areas. In monkeys, neurons of these areas become active also during the observation of movements performed by others, especially for coding the goal of the action (mirror system). Using bifocal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in healthy subjects, we tested whether the observation of goal directed reach to grasp actions may lead to specific changes in the short-latency connections linking key areas of the mirror system, such as the anterior intraparietal cortex (AIP) and the ventral premotor cortex (PMv), with the primary motor cortex (M1). We found that AIP-M1 and PMv-M1 cortico-cortical interactions were specifically activated when observing successful reaching to grasp goal directed actions, in which the hand posture was congruent with the goal of the action performed by the actor. On the other hand they were not modified when the same goal directed actions were performed wrongly with an inappropriate grasping posture. A similar profile of excitability was observed when testing specific intracortical facilitatory circuits in M1 (I(2)-waves), known to reflect the activity in cortico-cortical pathways transmitting information from PMv. We conclude that the simple observation of others' goal directed actions is able to induce specific neurophysiological changes in some cortico-cortical circuits of the human motor system.

KOCH, G., VERSACE, V., BONNI', S., LUPO, F., LO GERFO, E., OLIVERI, M., et al. (2010). Resonance of cortico-cortical connections of the motor system with the observation of goal directed grasping movements. NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA, 48(12), 3513-3520 [10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.07.037].

Resonance of cortico-cortical connections of the motor system with the observation of goal directed grasping movements.

OLIVERI, Massimiliano;
2010-01-01

Abstract

Goal directed movements require the activation of parietal, premotor and primary motor areas. In monkeys, neurons of these areas become active also during the observation of movements performed by others, especially for coding the goal of the action (mirror system). Using bifocal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in healthy subjects, we tested whether the observation of goal directed reach to grasp actions may lead to specific changes in the short-latency connections linking key areas of the mirror system, such as the anterior intraparietal cortex (AIP) and the ventral premotor cortex (PMv), with the primary motor cortex (M1). We found that AIP-M1 and PMv-M1 cortico-cortical interactions were specifically activated when observing successful reaching to grasp goal directed actions, in which the hand posture was congruent with the goal of the action performed by the actor. On the other hand they were not modified when the same goal directed actions were performed wrongly with an inappropriate grasping posture. A similar profile of excitability was observed when testing specific intracortical facilitatory circuits in M1 (I(2)-waves), known to reflect the activity in cortico-cortical pathways transmitting information from PMv. We conclude that the simple observation of others' goal directed actions is able to induce specific neurophysiological changes in some cortico-cortical circuits of the human motor system.
2010
Settore M-PSI/02 - Psicobiologia E Psicologia Fisiologica
KOCH, G., VERSACE, V., BONNI', S., LUPO, F., LO GERFO, E., OLIVERI, M., et al. (2010). Resonance of cortico-cortical connections of the motor system with the observation of goal directed grasping movements. NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA, 48(12), 3513-3520 [10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2010.07.037].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA 2010 KOCH.pdf

Solo gestori archvio

Descrizione: PDF
Dimensione 608.33 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
608.33 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10447/52021
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 91
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 86
social impact