Control of shared representations relies on key processes involved in mental state attribution
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Action observation leads to the automatic activation of the corresponding motor representation in the observer through "mirror-matching." This constitutes a "shared representational system," which is thought to subserve social understanding by motor simulation. However, it is unclear how these shared representations can be controlled and distinguished. Brain imaging suggests that controlling shared representations, indexed by the ability to control automatic imitative responses, activates anterior fronto-median cortex (aFMC), and temporo-parietal junction (TPJ). Crucially, these regions are also consistently implicated in mental state attribution and have provided an alternative account for higher-level social cognition. Here, we directly tested whether social-cognitive processes involve similar key computational mechanisms as the control of shared representations by using functional brain imaging to reveal overlapping brain circuits. We show in a within-subject design that commonly activated regions occurred selectively in aFMC and TPJ. Mentalizing and self-referential thoughts recruited a region in aFMC, which was also activated when controlling imitation. In the TPJ, an area overlapped between mentalizing, agency processing, and imitative control. Behavioral and neural correlates of mentalizing were further related to the individual ability for controlling imitation. Our findings support the assumption of shared key processes and suggest a novel link between embodied and social cognition.
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Previous fMRI studies on control of imitative tendencies have proposed mechanisms involving modulation of the mirror neuron system.
“This is in line with previous fMRI studies examining control of imitative tendencies, which have proposed mechanisms involving MNS modulation (Spengler et al., 2009; Cross et al., 2013).”
From To imitate or not: Avoiding imitation involves preparatory inhibition of motor resonance (2014) · cites this paper as Spengler et al., 2009
The findings align with theories that MNS modulation helps control unwanted imitation.
“These findings are consistent with theories proposing MNS modulation as a way to control unwanted imitation (Spengler et al., 2009).”
From To imitate or not: Avoiding imitation involves preparatory inhibition of motor resonance (2014) · cites this paper as Spengler et al., 2009
ToM and empathy are partially overlapping psychological constructs.
“ToM and empathy are partially overlapping psychological constructs”
From Parsing the neural correlates of moral cognition: ALE meta-analysis on morality, theory of mind, and empathy (2012) · cites this paper as Spengler et al. 2009
Embodied representation and meta-representation might not constitute two mutually exclusive processes.
“embodied representation and meta-representation might not constitute two mutually exclusive processes”
From Parsing the neural correlates of moral cognition: ALE meta-analysis on morality, theory of mind, and empathy (2012) · cites this paper as Spengler et al. 2009
ToM and empathy differ in representational content (mental states versus affect), yet both might be similarly brought about by interaction between top-down and bottom-up processes.
“ToM and empathy differ in the representational content (mental states versus affect), yet both might be similarly brought about by interaction between top-down and bottom-up processes”
From Parsing the neural correlates of moral cognition: ALE meta-analysis on morality, theory of mind, and empathy (2012) · cites this paper as Spengler et al. 2009
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Rauchbauer, B., Majdandžić, J., Hummer, A., Windischberger, C., & Lamm, C. (2015) · Cortex · doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2015.03.007 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Altered bodily self-consciousness and peripersonal space in autism
Mul, C.-L., Cardini, F., Stagg, S. D., Sadeghi Esfahlani, S., Kiourtsoglou, D., Cardellicchio, P., & Aspell, J. E. (2019) · Autism · doi:10.1177/1362361319838950 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
To imitate or not: Avoiding imitation involves preparatory inhibition of motor resonance
Cross, K. A., & Iacoboni, M. (2014) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.01.027 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
“These findings are consistent with theories proposingMNSmodulation as a way to control unwanted imitation (Spengler et al., 2009).”
Deschrijver, E., Wiersema, J. R., & Brass, M. (2017) · Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3758/s13415-016-0485-5 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Self-citationDarda, K. M., Butler, E. E., & Ramsey, R. (2018) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/jocn_a_01261 · Cited by 30 · see citing works
“For example, self – other control processes have been linked to autism, empathy, and theory of mind (de Guzman et al., 2016; Sowden & Shah, 2014; Spengler et al., 2009).”
BackgroundResultEnhanced Automatic Action Imitation and Intact Imitation-Inhibition in Schizophrenia
Simonsen, A., Fusaroli, R., Skewes, J. C., Roepstorff, A., Campbell-Meiklejohn, D., Mors, O., & Bliksted, V. (2019) · Schizophrenia Bulletin · doi:10.1093/schbul/sby006 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
The inhibition of automatic imitation: a meta-analysis and synthesis of fMRI studies
Darda, K. M., & Ramsey, R. (2018) · bioRxiv · doi:10.1101/334938
Tan, S. H. J., Leuk, S. P. J., & Teo, W.-P. (2026) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121906 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
A systematic review and meta-analysis on the neural correlates of bodily self-consciousness
Brunello, N., Diana, L., Sritharan, J., Glisic, M., Nef, T., Verma, R. K., & Zito, G. A. (2025) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106420 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Spengler, S., von Cramon, D. Y., & Brass, M.
- Affiliations
- Max Planck Society (DE)
- Ghent University (BE)
- ORCID
- Brass, Marcel
- Venue
- Human Brain Mapping
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2009-06-10
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 3704-3718
- ISSN
- 1065-9471 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-0193
- PMC
- PMC6870802
- OpenAlex
- W2012906125
- Cited by
- 170
- References
- 86
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 10.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Human Brain Mapping (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
- Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
- Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion)
- MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Social Robot Interaction and HRI
- Keywords
- shared representations, mental state attribution, mentalization, action observation, temporoparietal junction, social cognition, self-referential processing, embodied cognition, motor simulation
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Brain, Brain Mapping, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Imitative Behavior, Individuality, Inhibition, Psychological, Interpersonal Relations, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Mental Processes, Oxygen, Reaction Time, Social Perception, Task Performance and Analysis, Young Adult, Theory of Mind
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