 |
| Research article summary (published 30 Dec 2001): |
Somatosensory processing during movement observation in humans.
Full Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
A neural system matching action observation and execution seems to operate in the human brain, but its possible role in processing sensory inputs reaching the cortex during movement observation is unknown.
METHODS:
We investigated somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), somatosensory evoked fields (SEFs) and the temporal spectral evolution of the brain rhythms (approximately 10 and approximately 20 Hz) following electrical stimulation of the right median nerve in 15 healthy subjects, during the following randomly intermingled conditions:
a pure cognitive/attentive task (mental calculation); the observation of a motoric act (repetitive grasping) with low cognitive content ('Obs-grasp'); and the observation of a complex motoric act (finger movement sequence), that the subject had to recognize later on, therefore reflecting an adjunctive cognitive task ('Obs-seq'). These conditions were compared with an absence of tasks ('Relax') and actual motor performance.
RESULTS:
The post-stimulus rebound of the approximately 20 Hz beta magnetoencephalographic rhythm was reduced during movement observation, in spite of little changes in the approximately 10 Hz rhythm. Novel findings were:
selective amplitude increase of the pre-central N(30) SEP component during both 'Obs-grasp' and 'Obs-seq', as opposed to the 'gating effect' (i.e. amplitude decrease of the N(30)) occurring during movement execution. The strength increase of the 30 ms SEF cortical source significantly correlated with the decrease of the approximately 20 Hz post-stimulus rebound, suggesting a similar pre-central origin.
CONCLUSIONS:
Changes took place regardless of either the complexity or the cognitive content of the observed movement, being related exclusively with the motoric content of the action. It is hypothesized that the frontal 'mirror neurons' system, known to directly facilitate motor output during observation of actions, may also modulate those somatosensory inputs which are directed to pre-central areas. These changes are evident even in the very first phases (i.e. few tens of milliseconds) of the sensory processing.
Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills
Author information
Author/s: Rossi, S (S); Tecchio, F (F); Pasqualetti, P (P); Ulivelli, M (M); Pizzella, V (V); Romani, G L (GL); Passero, S (S); Battistini, N (N); Rossini, P M (PM);
Affiliation: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione Neurologia, UO Neurofisiopatologia, Università di Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy. rossisimo(-atsign-)unisi.it
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article
Journal: Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology (Clin Neurophysiol), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2002-Jan; vol 113 (issue 1) : pp 16-24
Dates: Created 2002/01/21; Completed 2002/02/28; Revised 2008/09/10;
PMID: 11801420, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):
Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.
This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.
MeSH headings (categories)
This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.
|
|
Related articles
This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.
See a large map of 100+ related articles.