The multiform motor cortical output: Kinematic, predictive and response coding

Sartori, Luisa; Betti, Sonia; Chinellato, Eris; Castiello, Umberto

doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2015.01.019

Cited by 21 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 75 publications

(94 reference statements)

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“…In this case the motor resonant response may still inform an automatic basic representation of the essential properties of the action, while explicit attention is necessary for a detailed representation of the kinematic parameters of the observed movement. Motor resonance therefore is not a uniform response, with unchanging properties and single function, but rather a composite phenomenon with different components [76] that are differently susceptible to cognitive manipulation [77] and may constitute parallel motor representations of the same observed action, utilized for different purposes by the central nervous system.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of attention in human motor resonance

et al. 2017

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Observation of others' actions evokes in primary motor cortex and spinal circuits of observers a subliminal motor resonance response, which reflects the motor program encoding observed actions. We investigated the role of attention in human motor resonance with four experimental conditions, explored in different subject groups: in the first explicit condition, subjects were asked to observe a rhythmic hand flexion-extension movement performed live in front of them. In two other conditions subjects had to monitor the activity of a LED light mounted on the oscillating hand. The hand was clearly visible but it was not the focus of subjects’ attention: in the semi-implicit condition hand movement was relevant to task completion, while in the implicit condition it was irrelevant. In a fourth, baseline, condition subjects observed the rhythmic oscillation of a metal platform. Motor resonance was measured with the H-reflex technique as the excitability modulation of cortico-spinal motorneurons driving a hand flexor muscle. As expected, a normal resonant response developed in the explicit condition, and no resonant response in the baseline condition. Resonant responses also developed in both semi-implicit and implicit conditions and, surprisingly, were not different from each other, indicating that viewing an action is, per se, a powerful stimulus for the action observation network, even when it is not the primary focus of subjects’ attention and even when irrelevant to the task. However, the amplitude of these responses was much reduced compared to the explicit condition, and the phase-lock between the time courses of observed movement and resonant motor program was lost. In conclusion, different parameters of the response were differently affected by subtraction of attentional resources with respect to the explicit condition: time course and muscle selection were preserved while the activation of motor circuits resulted in much reduced amplitude and lost its kinematic specificity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of attention in human motor resonance

et al. 2017

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“…Notably, manipulating critical components of the symbolic action (e.g., removing the miniaturized shoe from the finger) is sufficient to re‐establish the classic motor resonance output. These results highlight the role of contextual information during the motor resonance effect contingent upon action observation (e.g., Sartori et al ., , ). It seems that it is not only the phase or the kinematics of the observed action that modulates the level of motor coding, but an interplay of low‐ and high‐level factors (e.g., the context; Iacoboni et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies investigating corticospinal excitability facilitation induced by action observation seem to support both the low-level kinematic coding of the observed action (i.e., the muscular activation reflects the observed movements; Cavallo et al, 2012Cavallo et al, , 2013 and the high-level goal coding (i.e., the muscular activation reflects the movements neces-sary to reach the goal; Cattaneo et al, 2009Cattaneo et al, , 2013. Notably, other authors recently pointed out an integrated contribution of these two coding levels depending on the information provided to the observer about the action's goal (Mc Cabe et al, 2014) on the different processing stage of the action (Cavallo et al, 2013) or on the specific request addressed to the observer (Sartori et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kick with the finger: symbolic actions shape motor cortex excitability

Betti

Castiello

Sartori

2015

Eur J of Neuroscience

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A large body of research indicates that observing actions made by others is associated with corresponding motor facilitation of the observer's corticospinal system. However, it is still controversial whether this matching mechanism strictly reflects the kinematics of the observed action or its meaning. To test this issue, motor evoked potentials induced by single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation were recorded from hand and leg muscles while participants observed a symbolic action carried out with the index finger, but classically performed with the leg (i.e., a soccer penalty kick). A control condition in which participants observed a similar (but not symbolic) hand movement was also included. Results showed that motor facilitation occurs both in the observer's hand (first dorsal interosseous) and leg (quadriceps femoris) muscles. The present study provides evidence that both the kinematics and the symbolic value of an observed action are able to modulate motor cortex excitability. The human motor system is thus not only involved in mirroring observed actions but is also finely tuned to their symbolic value.

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“…In particular, we adopted a paradigm involving videos of penalty kicks in view of the well-established association between observing someone in frontal view kicking a ball far above the ground-straight in our direction-and the spontaneous reaction (i.e., parrying the ball). The effectiveness of this manipulation in priming an upper limb reaction has been confirmed in different studies (Sartori, Betti, Chinellato, & Castiello, 2015;Tomeo, Cesari, Aglioti, & Urgesi, 2013). We thus filmed penalty kicks performed by a soccer player who ran up to a ball and then kicked it straight in the direction of the goal-the place from which the action was filmed and thus the perspective of the person who was watching the video clip ( Figure 1A).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 74%

Congruent and Incongruent Corticospinal Activations at the Level of Multiple Effectors

Sartori

Betti

Perrone

et al. 2015

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

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Motor resonance is defined as the subliminal activation of the motor system while observing actions performed by others. However, resonating with another person's actions is not always an appropriate response: In real life, people do not just imitate but rather respond in a suitable fashion. A growing body of neurophysiologic studies has demonstrated that motor resonance can be overridden by complementary motor responses (such as preparing a precision grip on a small object when seeing an open hand in sign of request). In this study, we investigated the relationship between congruent and incongruent corticospinal activations at the level of multiple effectors. The modulation of motor evoked potentials evoked by single-pulse TMS over the motor cortex was assessed in upper and lower limb muscles of participants observing a soccer player performing a penalty kick straight in their direction. Study results revealed a double dissociation: Seeing the soccer player kicking the ball triggered a motor resonance in the observer's lower limb, whereas the upper limb response afforded by the object was overridden. On the other hand, seeing the ball approaching the observers elicited a complementary motor activation in upper limbs while motor resonance in lower limbs disappeared. Control conditions showing lateral kicks, mimicked kicks, and a ball in penalty area were also included to test the motor coding of object affordances. Results point to a modulation of motor responses in different limbs over the course of action and in function of their relevance in different contexts. We contend that ecologically valid paradigms are now needed to shed light on the motor system functioning in complex forms of interaction.

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The multiform motor cortical output: Kinematic, predictive and response coding

Cited by 21 publications

References 75 publications

The role of attention in human motor resonance

The role of attention in human motor resonance

Kick with the finger: symbolic actions shape motor cortex excitability

Congruent and Incongruent Corticospinal Activations at the Level of Multiple Effectors

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