title: Expressing our internal states and understanding those of others.
abstract: Vitality form is a term that describes the style with which motor actions are performed (e.g., rude, gentle, etc.). They represent one characterizing element of conscious and unconscious bodily communication. Despite their importance in interpersonal behavior, vitality forms have been, until now, virtually neglected in neuroscience. Here, using the functional MRI (fMRI) technique, we investigated the neural correlates of vitality forms in three different tasks: action observation, imagination, and execution. Conjunction analysis showed that, in all three tasks, there is a common, consistent activation of the dorsocentral sector of the insula. In addition, a common activation of the parietofrontal network, typically active during arm movements production, planning, and observation, was also found. We conclude that the dorsocentral part of the insula is a key element of the system that modulates the cortical motor activity, allowing individuals to express their internal states through action vitality forms. Recent monkey anatomical data show that the dorsocentral sector of the insula is, indeed, connected with the cortical circuit involved in the control of arm movements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy;
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Cesare
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Milan, Italy;
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Dio
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, University of Milan, 20135 Milan, Italy;
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy; Brain Center for Social and Motor Cognition, Italian Institute of Technology, 43100 Parma, Italy giacomo.rizzolatti@unipr.it.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzolatti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D059167:Mirror Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills; D009068:Movement; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: action style; fMRI; insula; mirror mechanism; vitality forms