What neuromodulation and lesion studies tell us about the function of the mirror neuron system and embodied cognition

TY - JOUR

T1 - What neuromodulation and lesion studies tell us about the function of the mirror neuron system and embodied cognition

AU - Keysers, Christian

AU - Paracampo, Riccardo

AU - Gazzola, V.

N1 - Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - We review neuromodulation and lesion studies that address how activations in the mirror neuron system contribute to our perception of observed actions. Past reviews showed disruptions of this parieto-premotor network impair imitation and goal and kinematic processing. Recent studies bring five new themes. First, focal perturbations of a node of that circuit lead to changes across all nodes. Second, primary somatosensory cortex is an integral part of this network suggesting embodied representations are somatosensory-motor. Third, disturbing this network impairs the ability to predict the actions of others in the close (∼300ms) future. Fourth, disruptions impair our ability to coordinate our actions with others. Fifth, disrupting this network, the insula or cingulate also impairs emotion recognition.

AB - We review neuromodulation and lesion studies that address how activations in the mirror neuron system contribute to our perception of observed actions. Past reviews showed disruptions of this parieto-premotor network impair imitation and goal and kinematic processing. Recent studies bring five new themes. First, focal perturbations of a node of that circuit lead to changes across all nodes. Second, primary somatosensory cortex is an integral part of this network suggesting embodied representations are somatosensory-motor. Third, disturbing this network impairs the ability to predict the actions of others in the close (∼300ms) future. Fourth, disruptions impair our ability to coordinate our actions with others. Fifth, disrupting this network, the insula or cingulate also impairs emotion recognition.

KW - Journal Article

KW - Review

U2 - 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.04.001

DO - 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.04.001

M3 - Article

C2 - 29734039

SN - 2352-250X

VL - 24

SP - 35

EP - 40

JO - Current Opinion in Psychology

JF - Current Opinion in Psychology

ER -