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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
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Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
Published on: August 1, 2018
Human cortical representations for reaching: mirror neurons for execution, observation, and imagery
Flavia Filimon1, Jonathan D Nelson, Donald J Hagler
1Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. #0515, La Jolla, CA 92093-0515, USA. ffilimon@cogsci.ucsd.edu
Neuroimage
|August 11, 2007
Summary
Mirror neuron areas in the brain activate during executed, observed, and imagined reaching movements. These findings highlight the specificity of the mirror neuron system for reaching actions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Motor Control
Background:
- Previous research focused on grasping and hand-object interactions.
- The neural basis of reaching, particularly the transport phase, remains less understood.
- Mirror neuron systems are implicated in action understanding and imitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map cortical representations of executed, observed, and imagined reaching in humans.
- To investigate the specificity of mirror neuron areas for reaching actions.
- To identify potential human homologues of macaque reaching circuits.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed.
- Participants performed, observed, and imagined reaching movements.
- Analysis focused on identifying overlapping brain activations across conditions.
Main Results:
- Overlapping activations for executed, observed, and imagined reaching were found in the dorsal premotor cortex, superior parietal lobe, and intraparietal sulcus.
- Observed reaching activations were located more dorsally compared to grasping-related activations.
- These fronto-parietal areas are proposed as human homologues of macaque reaching circuits.
Conclusions:
- The mirror neuron system demonstrates specificity for the type of hand action, such as reaching.
- The identified fronto-parietal network is crucial for executing, observing, and imagining reaching.
- This study extends the understanding of human reach-related brain areas to include observation and imagery.
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