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Cited by 4,968Action Observation and SynchronizationMotor Control and AdaptationFace Recognition and Perception

Action recognition in the premotor cortex

Gallese, Vittorio, Fadiga, Luciano, Fogassi, Leonardo, Rizzolatti, Giacomo·1996·Brain
DOI 10.1093/brain/119.2.593
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Abstract

We recorded electrical activity from 532 neurons in the rostral part of inferior area 6 (area F5) of two macaque monkeys. Previous data had shown that neurons of this area discharge during goal-directed hand and mouth movements. We describe here the properties of a newly discovered set of F5 neurons ("mirror neurons', n = 92) all of which became active both when the monkey performed a given action and when it observed a similar action performed by the experimenter. Mirror neurons, in order to be visually triggered, required an interaction between the agent of the action and the object of it. The sight of the agent alone or of the object alone (three-dimensional objects, food) were ineffective. Hand and the mouth were by far the most effective agents. The actions most represented among those activating mirror neurons were grasping, manipulating and placing. In most mirror neurons (92%) there was a clear relation between the visual action they responded to and the motor response they coded. In approximately 30% of mirror neurons the congruence was very strict and the effective observed and executed actions corresponded both in terms of general action (e.g. grasping) and in terms of the way in which that action was executed (e.g. precision grip). We conclude by proposing that mirror neurons form a system for matching observation and execution of motor actions. We discuss the possible role of this system in action recognition and, given the proposed homology between F5 and human…

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Crossref · 10.1093/brain/119.2.593

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2 of 2 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Monkey mirror neurons have been found that are responsive to the observation and execution of hand and mouth actions.

    “To date, monkey MNs have been found that are responsive to the observation and execution of hand and mouth actions.”

    From Mirror neurons: from origin to function (2014) · cites this paper as Gallese et al., 1996

  • Neurons with the capacity to match observed and executed actions were originally found in area F5 of the ventral premotor cortex and the inferior parietal lobule of the monkey brain.

    “Neurons with this capacity to match observed and executed actions, to code both 'my action' and 'your action', were originally found in area F5 of the ventral premotor cortex (PMC) (di Pellegrino et al., 1992; Gallese et al., 1996) and the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) (Bonini et al., 2010; Fogassi et al., 2005) of the monkey brain.”

    From Mirror neurons: from origin to function (2014) · cites this paper as Gallese et al., 1996

  • Many mirror neurons fire not only when a monkey performs an action, such as grasping an object using a power grip, but also when the monkey passively observes a similar action performed by another agent.

    “The striking feature of many MNs is that they fire not only when a monkey is performing an action, such as grasping an object using a power grip, but also when the monkey passively observes a similar action performed by another.”

    From Mirror neurons: from origin to function (2014) · cites this paper as Gallese et al., 1996

  • The single cell data suggest that relatively few mirror neurons have the field properties one would expect of a system designed by genetic evolution to represent high-level action intentions.

    “However, the single cell data again suggest that relatively few MNs have the field properties one would expect of a system designed by genetic evolution to represent high-level action intentions.”

    From Mirror neurons: from origin to function (2014) · cites this paper as Gallese et al., 1996

  • Early descriptions of mirror neuron field properties reported that pantomimed actions and intransitive actions did not elicit mirror neuron responses, whereas robust responses were reported when monkeys observed object-directed actions.

    “Early descriptions of MN field properties reported that pantomimed actions (e.g. miming a precision grip in the absence of an object), and intransitive actions (e.g. tongue protrusion) did not elicit MN responses (di Pellegrino et al., 1992; Gallese et al., 1996). In contrast, robust responses were reported when monkeys observed object-directed actions.”

    From Mirror neurons: from origin to function (2014) · cites this paper as Gallese et al., 1996

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Authors
Gallese, V., Fadiga, L., Fogassi, L., & Rizzolatti, G.
Affiliations
University of Parma (IT)
Corresponding author
Rizzolatti, Giacomo
ORCID
Venue
Brain
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
1996
Volume
119
Issue
2
Pages
593-609
ISSN
  • 0006-8950 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2156
DOI
10.1093/brain/119.2.593
OpenAlex
W2120019338
Cited by
4,968
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 77 · 2025: 97 · 2024: 120 · 2023: 123 · 2022: 153 · 2021: 192 · 2020: 183 · 2019: 184 · 2018: 221 · 2017: 192 · 2016: 242 · 2015: 231 · 2014: 261 · 2013: 309 · 2012: 297
FWCI
37.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Brain (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Institutional Research Information System University of Ferrara (University of Ferrara) (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 › Face Recognition and Perception
Keywords
mirror neurons, human action recognition, premotor cortex, macaque, grasping, precision grip, action execution
MeSH terms
Animals, Electromyography, Evoked Potentials, Visual, Frontal Lobe, Macaca, Motor Activity, Motor Cortex, Neurons

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