title: [The motor organization of cerebral cortex and the role of the mirror neuron system. Clinical impact for rehabilitation].
abstract: The basic characteristics of Penfield homunculus (somatotopy and unique representation) have been questioned. The existence of a defined anatomo-functional organization within different segments of the same region is controversial. The presence of multiple motor representations in the primary motor area and in the parietal lobe interconnected by parieto-frontal circuits, which are widely overlapped, form a complex organization. Both features support the recovery of functions after brain injury. Regarding the movement organization, it is possible to yield a relevant impact through the understanding of actions and intentions of others, which is mediated by the activation of mirror-neuron systems. The implementation of cognitive functions (observation, image of the action and imitation) from the acute treatment phase allows the activation of motor representations without having to perform the action and it plays an important role in learning motor patterns.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, España; Departamento de Fisioterapia, Fundació Universitària del Bages (UAB), Barcelona, España. Electronic address: lsalles@fub.edu.
authors.forename: Laia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sallés
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gironès
authors.affiliation: LaNCE, Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Vizcaya, España; Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago de Chile, Chile.
authors.forename: José Vicente
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Lafuente
mesh_terms: D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D059167:Mirror Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D056345:Theory of Mind
keywords: Homunculus; Homúnculo; Mirror neurons; Motor organization; Multiple representation; Neuronas espejo; Organización motora; Plasticidad; Plasticity; Representación múltiple; Somatotopy; Somatotopía