The neural bases of different levels of action understanding.
Many have recently questioned whether all levels of actions understanding, from lower kinematic levels to the higher goal or intention levels of action understanding, are processed in the action observation network (a network of neurons that are active during action execution and observation). A recent study by Wurm and Lingnau (J Neurosci 35: 7727-7735, 2015) gave evidence to the contrary, by showing that higher levels of action understanding are processed in the lateral occipitotemporal cortex. An important next step is to differentiate between the role of the lateral occipitotemporal cortex in processing the visual form of an observed action and the goal of an observed action.
Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York; and michelle.marneweck@uwa.edu.au.
Michelle
M
Marneweck
School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia.
Ann-Maree
AM
Vallence
D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex; D032882:Comprehension; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009474:Neurons
action goals; action understanding; fMRI; motor system; occipitotemporal cortex