Journal Article

PreJuSER-22782

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Imagined tool-use in near and far space modulates the extra-striate body area

Tomasino, B. ; Weiss, P. H.FZJ* ; Fink, G. R.FZJ*

2012
Elsevier Science Amsterdam [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2012.06.018

Abstract: Active tool-use can result in the incorporation of the tool into the body schema, e.g., the representation of the arm is enlarged according to tool length. This modification even influences the processing of space: using a long tool leads to a remapping of far space as near space. We here further investigate the interaction of the neural representations of the human body, tool use, and spatial domain. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed in twelve right-handed healthy individuals while they imagined moving a cylinder towards a target position in far or near space by mentally using either pliers or a joystick. The fMRI data revealed that already the imagined use of preferred tools in near and far space (i.e., pliers in far space, joystick in near space) modulated the neural activity in the extra-striate body area (EBA) located in the occipito-temporal cortex. Moreover, psycho-physical interaction analysis showed that during imagined tool-use the functional connectivity of left EBA to a network representing the near-personal space around the hand was strengthened. This increased functional connectivity is likely to reflect the neural processes underlying the incorporation of the tool into the body schema. Thus, the current data suggest that simulating tool-use modulates the representation of the human body in extra-striate cortex.

Keyword(s): J ; Motor imagery (auto) ; Body schema (auto) ; Occipito-temporal cortex (auto) ; Motor simulation (auto)

Note: We would like to thank the volunteers and our colleagues from the Cognitive Neuroscience (INM-3) and Physics of Medical Imaging (INM-4) sections. We are very gratefully to Dr. I. Baldinotti for his help in preparing the stimuli. The Alexander von Humboldt foundation is gratefully acknowledged for supporting BT.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Kognitive Neurowissenschaften (INM-3)

Research Program(s):

1. Funktion und Dysfunktion des Nervensystems (FUEK409) (FUEK409)
2. 89572 - (Dys-)function and Plasticity (POF2-89572) (POF2-89572)

Appears in the scientific report 2012

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Current Contents - Social and Behavioral Sciences ; JCR ; NCBI Molecular Biology Database ; Nationallizenz ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Social Sciences Citation Index ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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