Motor cortex excitability is tightly coupled to observed movements.

摘要: Abstract Although facilitation of the corticospinal (CS) system during action observation is a widely accepted phenomenon, it still controversial if reflects replica observed movement kinematics or tension to achieve particular goal. In this study, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded from abductor digiti minimi (ADM) and first dorsal interosseus (FDI) muscles while participant–volunteers model grasping small target eliciting precision grip large whole hand grasp directed toward an isolated object flanked by different sized objects (i.e., distractor). A detailed analysis revealed that model's influenced distractor's size. Video clips filming scene edited in such way distractor was removed scene. Participant–volunteers asked observe actions characterized same goal but performed using kinematical patterns. differences not noticed participant-volunteers, they nonetheless elicited distinct configurations activation. Detailed matching seems recruit onlooker as person actually carrying out actions. These effects appear be very subtle, imperceptible aspects pointing finely tuned mechanism specifically encodes body parts.