Mental Action Simulation Synchronizes Action-Observation Circuits across Individuals
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© 2014 Society for Neuroscience. This is the accepted version of the following article: Nummenmaa, L. & Smirnov, D. & Lahnakoski, J. M. & Glerean, E. & Jaaskelainen, I. P. & Sams, M. & Hari, Riitta. 2014. Mental Action Simulation Synchronizes Action-Observation Circuits across Individuals. Journal of Neuroscience. Volume 34, Issue 3. 748-757. ISSN 0270-6474 (printed). DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0352-13.2014, which has been published in final form at http://www.jneurosci.org/content/34/3/748.short.
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School of Science |
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
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Date
2014
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Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
748-757
Series
Journal of Neuroscience, Volume 34, Issue 3
Abstract
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 a prespecified boxer's feelings. Instantaneous intersubject phase synchronization (ISPS) was computed to derive multisubject voxelwise similarity of hemodynamic activity and inter-area functional connectivity. During passive viewing, subjects' brain activity was synchronized in sensory projection and posterior temporal cortices. Simulation induced widespread increase of ISPS in the AON (premotor, posterior parietal, and superior temporal cortices), primary and secondary somatosensory cortices, and the dorsal attention circuits (frontal eye fields, intraparietal sulcus). Moreover, interconnectivity of these regions strengthened during simulation. We propose that sharing a third person's feelings synchronizes the observer's own brain mechanisms supporting sensations and motor planning, thereby likely promoting mutual understanding.Description
Keywords
action, emotion, mirroring, simulation, somatosensation, synchronization
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Citation
Nummenmaa, L. & Smirnov, D. & Lahnakoski, J. M. & Glerean, E. & Jaaskelainen, I. P. & Sams, M. & Hari, Riitta. 2014. Mental Action Simulation Synchronizes Action-Observation Circuits across Individuals. Journal of Neuroscience. Volume 34, Issue 3. 748-757. ISSN 0270-6474 (printed). DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0352-13.2014.