title: The role of embodied simulation in mental transformation of whole-body images: evidence from Parkinson's disease.
abstract: It has been repeatedly demonstrated that mentally performing an action and mentally transforming body-parts entail simulation of one's own body movements, consistent with predictions of embodied cognition theories. However, the involvement of embodied simulation in mental transformation of whole-body images is still disputed. Here, we assessed own body transformation in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with symptoms most affecting the left or the right body side. PD patients were required to perform left-right judgments on front-facing or back-facing human figures, and a letter rotation task. Results demonstrated that PD patients were selectively impaired in judging the side of back-facing human figures corresponding to their own most affected side, but performed as well as healthy subjects on mental transformation of front-facing bodies and on letter rotation. These findings demonstrate a parallel impairment between motor and mental simulation mechanisms in PD patients, thus highlighting the specific contribution of embodied cognition to mental transformation of whole-body images.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100 Caserta, Italy. Electronic address: massimiliano.conson@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conson
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100 Caserta, Italy; Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS Institute of Telese Terme (BN), Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trojano
authors.affiliation: IDC "Hermitage-Capodimonte", Naples, Italy; University of Naples Parthenope, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuromotor Physiology, Scientific Institute Foundation Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, 00179 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzarella
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Allocca
authors.affiliation: IDC "Hermitage-Capodimonte", Naples, Italy; Neurodegenerative Diseases Center, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100 Caserta, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Second University of Naples, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100 Caserta, Italy; IDC "Hermitage-Capodimonte", Naples, Italy. Electronic address: gabriella.santangelo@unina2.it.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santangelo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D003221:Confusion / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012399:Rotation
keywords: Action simulation; Embodied cognition; Mental rotation; Mental transformation; Motor imagery; Parkinson’s disease