Open AccessObject words modulate the activity of the mirror neuron system during action imitation
Author(s) -
Wu Haiyan,
Tang Honghong,
Ge Yue,
Yang Suyong,
Mai Xiaoqin,
Luo YueJia,
Liu Chao
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 2162-3279
DOI - 10.1002/brb3.840
Subject(s) - mirror neuron , imitation , inferior parietal lobule , premotor cortex , action (physics) , cognitive imitation , psychology , neuroscience , object (grammar) , cognitive psychology , inferior frontal gyrus , cognition , computer science , artificial intelligence , biology , anatomy , physics , dorsum , quantum mechanics
Background Although research has demonstrated that the mirror neuron system ( MNS ) plays a crucial role in both action imitation and action‐related semantic processing, whether action‐related words can inversely modulate the MNS activity remains unclear. Methods Here, three types of task‐irrelevant words (body parts, verbs, and manufactured objects) were presented to examine the modulation effect of these words on the MNS activity during action observation and imitation. Twenty‐two participants were recruited for the fMRI scanning and remaining data from 19 subjects were reported here. Results Brain activity results showed that word types elicited different modulation effects over nodes of the MNS (i.e., the right inferior frontal gyrus, premotor cortex, inferior parietal lobule, and STS ), especially during the imitation stage. Compared with other word conditions, action imitation following manufactured objects words induced stronger activation in these brain regions during the imitation stage. These results were consistent in both task‐dependent and ‐independent ROI analysis. Conclusion Our findings thus provide evidence for the unique effect of object words on the MNS during imitation of action, which may also confirm the key role of goal inference in action imitation.