z-logo
open-access-imgOpen Access
A topographical organization for action representation in the human brain
Author(s) -
Handjaras Giacomo,
Bernardi Giulio,
Benuzzi Francesca,
Nichelli Paolo F.,
Pietrini Pietro,
Ricciardi Emiliano
Publication year - 2015
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.22881
Subject(s) - functional magnetic resonance imaging , neuroscience , representation (politics) , action (physics) , psychology , cognition , human brain , functional connectivity , transitive relation , motor area , supplementary motor area , coding (social sciences) , cognitive science , cognitive psychology , computer science , sociology , physics , quantum mechanics , politics , political science , law , social science , mathematics , combinatorics
How the human brain represents distinct motor features into a unique finalized action still remains undefined. Previous models proposed the distinct features of a motor act to be hierarchically organized in separated, but functionally interconnected, cortical areas. Here, we hypothesized that distinct patterns across a wide expanse of cortex may actually subserve a topographically organized coding of different categories of actions that represents, at a higher cognitive level and independently from the distinct motor features, the action and its final aim as a whole. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging and pattern classification approaches on the neural responses of 14 right‐handed individuals passively watching short movies of hand‐performed tool‐mediated , transitive , and meaningful intransitive actions, we were able to discriminate with a high accuracy and characterize the category‐specific response patterns. Actions are distinctively coded in distributed and overlapping neural responses within an action‐selective network, comprising frontal, parietal, lateral occipital and ventrotemporal regions. This functional organization, that we named action topography , subserves a higher‐level and more abstract representation of finalized actions and has the capacity to provide unique representations for multiple categories of actions. Hum Brain Mapp 36:3832–3844, 2015 . © 2015 The Authors Human Brain Mapping Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.
Having issues? You can contact us here