Journal Article

PreJuSER-8963

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png ALE meta-analysis of action observation and imitation in the human brain

Caspers, S.FZJ* ; Zilles, K.FZJ* ; Laird, A. R. ; Eickhoff, S. B.FZJ*

2010
Academic Press Orlando, Fla.

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.12.112

Abstract: Over the last decade, many neuroimaging studies have assessed the human brain networks underlying action observation and imitation using a variety of tasks and paradigms. Nevertheless, questions concerning which areas consistently contribute to these networks irrespective of the particular experimental design and how such processing may be lateralized remain unresolved. The current study aimed at identifying cortical areas consistently involved in action observation and imitation by combining activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis with probabilistic cytoarchitectonic maps. Meta-analysis of 139 functional magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography experiments revealed a bilateral network for both action observation and imitation. Additional subanalyses for different effectors within each network revealed highly comparable activation patterns to the overall analyses on observation and imitation, respectively, indicating an independence of these findings from potential confounds. Conjunction analysis of action observation and imitation meta-analyses revealed a bilateral network within frontal premotor, parietal, and temporo-occipital cortex. The most consistently rostral inferior parietal area was PFt, providing evidence for a possible homology of this region to macaque area PF. The observation and imitation networks differed particularly with respect to the involvement of Broca's area: whereas both networks involved a caudo-dorsal part of BA 44, activation during observation was most consistent in a more rostro-dorsal location, i.e., dorsal BA 45, while activation during imitation was most consistent in a more ventro-caudal aspect, i.e., caudal BA 44. The present meta-analysis thus summarizes and amends previous descriptions of the human brain networks related to action observation and imitation.

Keyword(s): Algorithms (MeSH) ; Brain: physiology (MeSH) ; Brain: radionuclide imaging (MeSH) ; Brain Mapping (MeSH) ; Humans (MeSH) ; Imitative Behavior: physiology (MeSH) ; Likelihood Functions (MeSH) ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MeSH) ; Motion Perception: physiology (MeSH) ; Motor Activity (MeSH) ; Neural Pathways: physiology (MeSH) ; Neural Pathways: radionuclide imaging (MeSH) ; Positron-Emission Tomography (MeSH) ; Probability (MeSH) ; J ; Action observation (auto) ; Imitation (auto) ; Inferior parietal (auto) ; Meta-analysis (auto) ; Mirror neurons (auto)

Note: This Human Brain Project/Neuroinformatics Research was funded by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute of Mental Health. Further funding was granted by the Human Brain Project (R01-MH074457-01A1; S.B.E., A.R.L.), the Initiative and Networking Fund of the Helmholtz Association within the Helmholtz Alliance on Systems Biology (Human Brain Model: K.Z., S.B.E.), and the Helmholtz Alliance for Mental Health in an Aging Society (HelMA; KZ).

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Molekulare Organisation des Gehirns (INM-2)
2. Jülich-Aachen Research Alliance - Translational Brain Medicine (JARA-BRAIN)

Research Program(s):

1. Funktion und Dysfunktion des Nervensystems (FUEK409) (FUEK409)
2. 89571 - Connectivity and Activity (POF2-89571) (POF2-89571)

Appears in the scientific report 2010

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