Neural Circuits Underlying Imitation Learning of Hand Actions
Open accessAbstract
The neural bases of imitation learning are virtually unknown. In the present study, we addressed this issue using an event-related fMRI paradigm. Musically naive participants were scanned during four events: (1) observation of guitar chords played by a guitarist, (2) a pause following model observation, (3) execution of the observed chords, and (4) rest. The results showed that the basic circuit underlying imitation learning consists of the inferior parietal lobule and the posterior part of the inferior frontal gyrus plus the adjacent premotor cortex (mirror neuron circuit). This circuit, known to be involved in action understanding, starts to be active during the observation of the guitar chords. During pause, the middle frontal gyrus (area 46) plus structures involved in motor preparation (dorsal premotor cortex, superior parietal lobule, rostral mesial areas) also become active. Given the functional properties of area 46, a model of imitation learning is proposed based on interactions between this area and the mirror neuron system.
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Functional magnetic resonance imaging has identified regions of premotor cortex (BA6 and BA44) and inferior parietal areas that are active during both action observation and execution.
“Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has identified regions of PMC (both classic BA6, and BA44) and inferior parietal areas that are active during both action observation and execution”
From Mirror neurons: from origin to function (2014) · cites this paper as Buccino et al., 2004
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“These are located in the posterior part of the inferior frontal gyrus, the ventral premotor cortex, the inferior parietal lobule, and the superior temporal cortex (Buccino et al., 2004a).”
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“However, compared to learning novel, more finely tuned movements such as playing guitar chords [28], or piano sequences [37] our task requires minimal effort and is only practised briefly in the scanner.”
Background
- Authors
- Buccino, G., Vogt, S., Ritzl, A., Fink, G. R., Zilles, K., Freund, H.-J., & Rizzolatti, G.
- Affiliations
- University of Parma (IT)
- Lancaster University (GB)
- Forschungszentrum Jülich (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Rizzolatti, Giacomo
- Venue
- Neuron
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2004-04
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 323-334
- ISSN
- 0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2017338379
- Cited by
- 926
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 39 · 2018: 59 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 54 · 2015: 45 · 2014: 49 · 2013: 48 · 2012: 52
- FWCI
- 63.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/ (vor, 3394 d)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-017 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-037 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-012 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-029 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-004 (stm-asf)
- Locations
- Neuron (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) (submittedVersion)
- JuSER (Forschungszentrum Jülich) (submittedVersion)
- mediaTUM – the media and publications repository of the Technical University Munich (Technical University Munich) (submittedVersion)
- RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Music Perception
- Keywords
- imitation learning, mirror neuron system, inferior parietal lobule, inferior frontal gyrus, premotor cortex, area 46, motor preparation, action observation, guitar chords, neural circuits, motor execution
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cerebral Cortex, Female, Hand, Humans, Imitative Behavior, Learning, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Movement, Nerve Net
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