Action knowledge, visuomotor activation, and embodiment in the two action systems

Abstract

Scientific interest in the relationship between cognition and action has increased markedly in the past several years, fueled by the discovery of mirror neurons in monkey prefrontal and parietal cortex and by the emergence of a movement in cognitive psychology, termed the embodied cognition framework, which emphasizes the role of simulation in cognitive representations. Guided by a functional neuroanatomic model called the Two Action Systems account, which posits numerous points of differentiation between structure- and function-based actions, we focus on two of the major issues under recent scrutiny: the relationship between representations for action production and recognition, and the role of action in object representations. We suggest that mirror neurons in humans are not critical for full action understanding, and that only function-based (and not structure-based) action is a component of embodied object concepts.

On the dynamics of action representations evoked by names of manipulable objects.

“…First, the fact that auditory words automatically generated both V-and F-grasps was not consistent with the widely held view that a conceptually driven representation of action is associated with only the functional knowledge of an object and not with its overall shape. Buxbaum and Kalénine (2010) articulated this view, which is shared by many other investigators (e.g., Fridman et al, 2006;Glover, 2004;Johnson-Frey, 2004;Pisella, Binkofski, Lasek, Toni, & Rossetti, 2006;Vingerhoets et al, 2009). They posited two computationally and neuroanatomically separate systems, one responsible for actions based on object structure (in our terminology, the V-grasp) and the other governing actions driven by knowledge of an object's function (the F-grasp).…”

“…Simply attending to words denoting such objects immediately and automatically evokes this action representation. Clearly, aspects of the grasp for lifting, and not just using, an object must be stored as part of a word's conceptual representation, though the evanescent time course indicates that the V-grasp is subject to rapid decay (as argued by Buxbaum & Kalénine, 2010), at least under certain task conditions. An additional point emerges given the different temporal dynamics of F-and V-grasps.…”

“…Buxbaum and Kalénine (2010) argued that V-grasps are not derived from the stored knowledge of object structure but are computed de novo from the perceived shape, size, and orientation of an object in relation to the observer (see also Glover, 2004;JohnsonFrey, 2004;Vingerhoets, Acke, Vandemaele, & Achten, 2009). F-grasps, in contrast, are based on a long-term representation of the core features of skilled actions that remain constant across different instances of the same kind of object.…”

Perceptual decisions regarding object manipulation are selectively impaired in apraxia or when tDCS is applied over the left IPL

“…The relationship between apraxia and left IPL damage implies that apraxic symptoms may reflect a disruption to the ventro-dorsal stream resulting in impaired access to internal motor representations necessary for accurate perception of object-use manipulation (Haaland, Harrington, & Knight, 2000;Buxbaum & Saffran, 2002;Randerath, Li, Goldenberg, & Hermsdörfer, 2009;Buxbaum & Kalénine, 2010). Akin to the dissociations found in neuroimaging data, apraxic patients make errors matching objects manipulated similarly (e.g.…”

“…Predominantly left lateralised, the ventro-dorsal stream extends from occipital cortex to the left IPL, to the ventral premotor cortex and frontal eye fields (Frey 2007;Rizzolatti, Fogassi, & Luppino, 2011). The ventro-dorsal stream is purportedly critical in skilled action execution, movement perception, and mental representations of movement (or motor imagery) that may be necessary when retrieving postural requirements related to skilled object-use and object manipulation (Jeannerod, 1994;Buccino et al, 2001;Kosslyn, Ganis, & Thompson, 2001;Solodkin, Hlustik, Chen, & Small, 2004;Johnson-Frey, Newman-Norland, & Grafton, 2005;Buxbaum, Kyle, Tang, & Detre, 2006;Lotze & Cohen, 2006;Creem-Regehr, 2009;Rizzolatti & Craighero, 2004;Buxbaum & Kalénine, 2010;Gao, Duan, & Chen, 2011). It is therefore possible that skilled action execution, motor imagery and movement perception may involve a common process that critically relies on the ventrodorsal stream.…”