Cortical Mechanisms of Human Imitation

摘要: How does imitation occur? can the motor plans necessary for imitating an action derive from observation of that action? Imitation may be based on a mechanism directly matching observed onto internal representation (“direct hypothesis”). To test this hypothesis, normal human participants were asked to observe and imitate finger movement perform same after spatial or symbolic cues. Brain activity was measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging. If direct hypothesis is correct, there should areas become active during movement, regardless how it evoked, their activation increase when elicited by identical made another individual. Two these properties found in left inferior frontal cortex (opercular region) rostral-most region right superior parietal lobule. has central role development learning motor, communicative, social skills (1, 2). However, neural basis its mechanisms are poorly understood. Data patients brain lesions suggest regions critical (3) but do not provide insights underlying it. Models instrumental