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Somatosensory processing during movement observation in humans.

S Rossi¹, F Tecchio, P Pasqualetti

¹Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Sezione Neurologia, UO Neurofisiopatologia, Università di Siena, Policlinico Le Scotte, Viale Bracci, 53100 Siena, Italy. rossisimo@unisi.it

Clinical Neurophysiology : Official Journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology

|January 22, 2002

Summary

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Observing actions modulates sensory processing in the brain, even in the early stages. This suggests the mirror neuron system influences how we perceive movement-related sensory input.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Motor Control
Sensory Processing

Background:

A neural system for action observation and execution exists in humans.
The role of this system in processing sensory input during movement observation is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate how observing motor actions affects somatosensory processing.
To determine if sensory changes during movement observation are related to cognitive or motor content.

Main Methods:

Measured somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and fields (SEFs) during median nerve stimulation.
Analyzed brain rhythms (10 and 20 Hz) in healthy subjects observing different motor tasks (grasping, sequence) versus cognitive tasks and rest.
Compared sensory responses during movement observation with actual movement execution.

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Main Results:

Reduced 20 Hz beta rhythm rebound during movement observation.
Increased amplitude of the N(30) SEP component during movement observation, unlike the decrease during execution.
Correlation between increased SEF source strength and decreased 20 Hz rhythm rebound.

Conclusions:

Sensory processing changes during movement observation are linked to the motoric content, not cognitive complexity.
The mirror neuron system may modulate somatosensory inputs to pre-central areas.
These modulations occur very early in sensory processing (within tens of milliseconds).