title: Persistent sparing of action conceptual processing in spite of increasing disorders of action production: A case against motor embodiment of action concepts.
abstract: In this study, we addressed the issue of whether the brain sensorimotor circuitry that controls action production is causally involved in representing and processing action-related concepts. We examined the three-year pattern of evolution of brain atrophy, action production disorders, and action-related concept processing in a patient (J.R.) diagnosed with corticobasal degeneration. During the period of investigation, J.R. presented with increasing action production disorders resulting from increasing bilateral atrophy in cortical and subcortical regions involved in the sensorimotor control of actions (notably, the superior parietal cortex, the primary motor and premotor cortex, the inferior frontal gyrus, and the basal ganglia). In contrast, the patient's performance in processing action-related concepts remained intact during the same period. This finding indicated that action concept processing hinges on cognitive and neural resources that are mostly distinct from those underlying the sensorimotor control of actions.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Psychological Sciences , Université catholique de Louvain , Louvain-la-Neuve , Belgium.|b Institute of Neuroscience , Université catholique de Louvain , Bruxelles , Belgium.|c Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique-FNRS , Bruxelles , Belgium.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vannuscorps
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Neuroscience , Université catholique de Louvain , Bruxelles , Belgium.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dricot
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Psychological Sciences , Université catholique de Louvain , Louvain-la-Neuve , Belgium.|b Institute of Neuroscience , Université catholique de Louvain , Bruxelles , Belgium.|c Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique-FNRS , Bruxelles , Belgium.
authors.forename: Agnesa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pillon
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001072:Apraxias / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001284:Atrophy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Embodied cognition; action concepts; action production; apraxia; corticobasal degeneration