Understanding action with the motor system
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Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation
Published on: December 31, 2013
Vittorio Gallese1, Corrado Sinigaglia2
1Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy. vittorio.gallese@unipr.it http://www.unipr.it/arpa/mirror/english/staff/gallese.htm.
Abstract:
We challenge Cook et al.'s claim about the vagueness of the notion of action understanding in relation with mirror neurons. We show the multidimensional nature of action understanding and provide a definition of motor-based action understanding, shedding new light on the various components of action understanding and on their relationship. Finally, we propose an alternative perspective on the origin of mirror neurons, stressing the necessity to abandon the dichotomy between genetic and associative hypotheses.
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