Cited by 2,858Action Observation and SynchronizationNeurobiology of Language and BilingualismFace Recognition and Perception

Language within our grasp.

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Rizzolatti, Giacomo, Arbib, Michael A.·1998·Trends in Neurosciences

Abstract

In monkeys, the rostral part of ventral premotor cortex (area F5) contains neurons that discharge, both when the monkey grasps or manipulates objects and when it observes the experimenter making similar actions. These neurons (mirror neurons) appear to represent a system that matches observed events to similar, internally generated actions, and in this way forms a link between the observer and the actor. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and positron emission tomography (PET) experiments suggest that a mirror system for gesture recognition also exists in humans and includes Broca's area. We propose here that such an observation/execution matching system provides a necessary bridge from'doing' to'communicating',as the link between actor and observer becomes a link between the sender and the receiver of each message.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0166-2236(98)01260-0

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  • Area F5 plays a major role in the mirror neuron system and has been interpreted as a putative correlate of human area 44.

    “Area F5 plays a major role in the mirror neuron system and has been interpreted as a putative correlate of human area 44 [30], whereas other authors disagreed [31],[32].”

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Passingham, R. (1981) Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London Ser. B 292, 167-175
  2. van Riemsdijk, H. and Williams, E. (1986) Introduction to the Theory of Grammar, MIT Press 38
  3. Klima, E.S. and Bellugi, U. (1979) The Signs of the Language, Harvard University Press 44
  4. MacNeilage, P.F. Behav. Brain Sci. (in press)

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Authors
Rizzolatti, G., & Arbib, M. A.
Affiliations
  • University of Parma (IT)
  • University of Southern California (US)
Venue
Trends in Neurosciences
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1998-05
Volume
21
Issue
5
Pages
188-194
ISSN
0166-2236 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2146670093
Cited by
2,858
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 74 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 57 · 2021: 53 · 2020: 109 · 2019: 115 · 2018: 80 · 2017: 68 · 2016: 93 · 2015: 114 · 2014: 120 · 2013: 143 · 2012: 167
FWCI
13.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Trends in Neurosciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
Keywords
mirror neurons, ventral premotor cortex, gesture recognition, Broca's area, action observation, action execution, language evolution, communication, transcranial magnetic stimulation, positron emission tomography
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain, Communication, Frontal Lobe, Gestures, Humans, Language, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Speech, Hand Strength

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