Mental action simulation synchronizes action-observation circuits across individuals.

摘要: A frontoparietal action–observation network (AON) has been proposed to support understanding others' actions and goals. We show that the AON “ticks together” in human subjects who are sharing a third person's feelings. During functional magnetic resonance imaging, 20 volunteers watched movies depicting boxing matches passively or while simulating prespecified boxer's Instantaneous intersubject phase synchronization (ISPS) was computed derive multisubject voxelwise similarity of hemodynamic activity inter-area connectivity. passive viewing, subjects' brain synchronized sensory projection posterior temporal cortices. Simulation induced widespread increase ISPS (premotor, parietal, superior cortices), primary secondary somatosensory cortices, dorsal attention circuits (frontal eye fields, intraparietal sulcus). Moreover, interconnectivity these regions strengthened during simulation. propose feelings synchronizes observer's own mechanisms supporting sensations motor planning, thereby likely promoting mutual understanding.