Differential activation of the lateral premotor cortex during action observation.
BACKGROUND
Action observation leads to neural activation of the human premotor cortex. This study examined how the level of motor expertise (expert vs. novice) in ballroom dancing and the visual viewpoint (internal vs. external viewpoint) influence this activation within different parts of this area of the brain.


RESULTS
Sixteen dance experts and 16 novices observed ballroom dance videos from internal or external viewpoints while lying in a functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner. A conjunction analysis of all observation conditions showed that action observation activated distinct networks of premotor, parietal, and cerebellar structures. Experts revealed increased activation in the ventral premotor cortex compared to novices. An internal viewpoint led to higher activation of the dorsal premotor cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results suggest that the ventral and dorsal premotor cortex adopt differential roles during action observation depending on the level of motor expertise and the viewpoint.
Pilgramm
Sebastian
S
Institute of Sport Science, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Kugelberg 62, 35394 Giessen, Germany. Sebastian.Pilgramm@psychol.uni-giessen.de
Lorey
Britta
B
Stark
Rudolf
R
Munzert
Jörn
J
Vaitl
Dieter
D
Zentgraf
Karen
K
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003615:Dancing / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires