Research article summary (published 29 Aug 2006):

Observation of a finger or an object movement primes imitative responses differentially.

Full Abstract

Behavioural advantages for imitation of human movements over movements instructed by other visual stimuli are attributed to an 'action observation-execution matching' (AOEM) mechanism. Here, we demonstrate that priming/exogenous cueing with a videotaped finger movement stimulus (S1) produces specific congruency effects in reaction times (RTs) of imitative responses to a target movement (S2) at defined stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs). When contrasted with a moving object at an SOA of 533 ms, only a human movement is capable of inducing an effect reminiscent of 'inhibition of return' (IOR), i.e. a significant advantage for imitation of a subsequent incongruent as compared to a congruent movement. When responses are primed by a finger movement at SOAs of 533 and 1,200 ms, inhibition of congruent or facilitation of incongruent responses, respectively, is stronger as compared to priming by a moving object. This pattern does not depend on whether S2 presents a finger movement or a moving object, thus effects cannot be attributed to visual similarity between S1 and S2. We propose that, whereas both priming by a finger movement and a moving object induces processes of spatial orienting, solely observation of a human movement activates AOEM. Thus, S1 immediately elicits an imitative response tendency. As an overt imitation of S1 is inadequate in the present setting, the response is inhibited which, in turn, modulates congruency effects.

Author information

Author/s: Jonas, M (M); Biermann-Ruben, K (K); Kessler, K (K); Lange, R (R); Bäumer, T (T); Siebner, H R (HR); Schnitzler, A (A); Münchau, A (A);

Affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany. m.jonas(-atsign-)uke.uni-hamburg.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Experimental brain research. Experimentelle Hirnforschung. Expérimentation cérébrale (Exp Brain Res), published in Germany. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Feb; vol 177 (issue 2) : pp 255-65

Dates: Created 2007/02/12; Completed 2007/07/31; Revised 2008/02/15;

PMID: 16944109, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Cognition - physiology Cues Female Fingers - innervation; physiology Humans Imitative Behavior - physiology Learning - physiology Male

Male Movement - physiology Neural Inhibition - physiology Neuropsychological Tests Orientation - physiology Photic Stimulation Reaction Time - physiology Space Perception - physiology Visual Perception - physiology

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