Cited by 361Action Observation and SynchronizationMotor Control and AdaptationPrimate Behavior and Ecology

Mirror Neurons Differentially Encode the Peripersonal and Extrapersonal Space of Monkeys

Caggiano, Vittorio, Fogassi, Leonardo, Rizzolatti, Giacomo, Thier, Peter, Casile, Antonino·2009·Science

Abstract

Actions performed by others may have different relevance for the observer, and thus lead to different behavioral responses, depending on the regions of space in which they are executed. We found that in rhesus monkeys, the premotor cortex neurons activated by both the execution and the observation of motor acts (mirror neurons) are differentially modulated by the location in space of the observed motor acts relative to the monkey, with about half of them preferring either the monkey's peripersonal or extrapersonal space. A portion of these spatially selective mirror neurons encode space according to a metric representation, whereas other neurons encode space in operational terms, changing their properties according to the possibility that the monkey will interact with the object. These results suggest that a set of mirror neurons encodes the observed motor acts not only for action understanding, but also to analyze such acts in terms of features that are relevant to generating appropriate behaviors.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.1166818

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10 of 10 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Mirror neurons in PMVr display preferential activity for stimuli located in PPS.

    “Mirror neurons in PMVr also display preferential activity for stimuli located in the PPS (Caggiano et al. 2009).”
  • 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 Caggiano et al., 2009

  • Prior investigations in rodents and primates have provided evidence for neurons that encode information about other individuals, demonstrating changes in activity when animals observe another's appetitive or aversive experiences.

    “Prior investigations in rodents and primates, for example, have provided evidence for the presence of neurons that encode information about other individuals, demonstrating changes in activity when the animals observe another’s appetitive or aversive experiences 1–11.”
  • Previous investigations have provided insight into how discrete aspects of another animal's experience, such as receipt of reward, may be encoded by cells.

    “Previous investigations have provided insight into how discrete aspects of another animal’s experience, such as receipt of reward, may be encoded by cells 1–7,9.”

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Authors
Caggiano, V., Fogassi, L., Rizzolatti, G., Thier, P., & Casile, A.
Affiliations
University of Parma (IT)
Corresponding author
Casile, Antonino
Venue
Science
Published
2009-04-17
Volume
324
Issue
5925
Pages
403-406
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W2137701569
Cited by
361
References
10
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 20
FWCI
32.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
Keywords
mirror neurons, peripersonal space, extrapersonal space, rhesus monkeys, premotor cortex, action observation, spatial coding, metric representation, operational representations, action understanding, social cognition
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain Mapping, Macaca mulatta, Male, Mental Processes, Motor Activity, Motor Cortex, Neurons, Personal Space, Psychomotor Performance, Space Perception, Visual Perception

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