Open AccessSpatial‐temporal dynamics of cortical activity underlying reaching and grasping
Author(s) -
VirjiBabul Naznin,
Moiseev Alexander,
Cheung Teresa,
Weeks Daniel,
Cheyne Douglas,
Ribary Urs
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
human brain mapping
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.005
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1097-0193
pISSN - 1065-9471
DOI - 10.1002/hbm.20853
Subject(s) - magnetoencephalography , neuroscience , somatosensory system , supplementary motor area , premotor cortex , functional magnetic resonance imaging , psychology , dynamics (music) , brain activity and meditation , brain mapping , electroencephalography , biology , dorsum , anatomy , pedagogy
How humans understand the actions and intentions of others remains poorly understood. Here we report the results of a magnetoencephalography (MEG) experiment to determine the temporal dynamics and spatial distribution of brain regions activated during execution and observation of a reach to grasp motion using real world stimuli. We show that although both conditions activate similar brain areas, there are distinct differences in the timing, pattern and location of activation. Specifically, observation of motion revealed a right hemisphere dominance with activation involving a network of regions that include frontal, temporal and parietal areas. In addition, the latencies of activation showed a task specific pattern. During movement execution, the earliest activation was observed in the left premotor and somatosensory regions, followed closely by left primary motor and STG at the time of movement onset. During observation, there was a shift in the timing of activation with the earliest activity occurring in the right temporal region followed by activity in the left motor areas. Activity within these areas was also characterized by a shift to a lower frequency in comparison with action execution. These results add to the growing body of evidence indicating a complex interaction within a distributed network involving motor and nonmotor regions during observation of real actions. Hum Brain Mapp, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.