Neural mechanisms of imitation
Abstract
Recent advances in our knowledge of the neural mechanisms of imitation suggest that there is a core circuitry of imitation comprising the superior temporal sulcus and the 'mirror neuron system', which consists of the posterior inferior frontal gyrus and adjacent ventral premotor cortex, as well as the rostral inferior parietal lobule. This core circuitry communicates with other neural systems according to the type of imitation performed. Imitative learning is supported by interaction of the core circuitry of imitation with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and perhaps motor preparation areas--namely, the mesial frontal, dorsal premotor and superior parietal areas. By contrast, imitation as a form of social mirroring is supported by interaction of the core circuitry of imitation with the limbic system.
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Visual information in the STS is propagated to the IPL, where it is passed to the PMC, and information is passed back to the IPL.
“Visual information in the STS is propagated to the IPL ( 60% of the neurons in the monkey), where it is passed to the PMC ( 20% of the neurons).”
From Social cognition and the brain: A meta-analysis (2009) · cites this paper as Iacoboni, 2005
The mirror system consists of a cortical structure involving the superior temporal sulcus (STS), the inferior parietal lobe (IPL) or parietal mirror system, and the premotor cortex (PMC) including the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) or frontal mirror system.
“single-cell recording studies with monkeys and fMRI studies with humans has revealed that the mirror system consists of a cortical structure involving the superior temporal sulcus (STS), the inferior parietal lobe (IPL) or parietal mirror system, and the premotor cortex (PMC) including the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) or frontal mirror system [homologous to the F5 in monkeys; Gallese et al., 2004;”
From Social cognition and the brain: A meta-analysis (2009) · cites this paper as Iacoboni, 2005
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- Authors
- Iacoboni, M.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Los Angeles (US)
- Corresponding author
- Iacoboni, Marco
- ORCID
- Iacoboni, Marco
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Neurobiology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2005-12
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 632-637
- ISSN
- 0959-4388 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2149683980
- Cited by
- 606
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 26 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 38 · 2012: 44
- FWCI
- 4.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Neurobiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH63680)
- National Center for Research Resources (RR08655, RR12169, C06RR012169)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
- Keywords
- imitation, mirror neuron system, superior temporal sulcus, ventral premotor cortex, inferior parietal lobule, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, motor preparation, social mirroring, limbic system, imitation learning, neural circuits
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cerebral Cortex, Diagnostic Imaging, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Learning, Mental Processes, Neurons
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