Common coding and dynamic interactions between observed, imagined, and experienced motor and somatosensory activity

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Motor Control

Background:

• Motor imagery and perception are forms of motor simulation sharing neural representations with motor production.
• Research has focused on common coding, but less on the interaction between these overlapping representations.
• Understanding these interactions is key to controlling perception and behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review interactions between motor production and motor simulation.
• To explore regulatory mechanisms balancing motor simulation and production.
• To examine shared representations in the somatosensory system and their regulation.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on motor imagery, perception, and production.
• Analysis of research on the "sensory mirror system" and shared sensory representations.
• Synthesis of findings related to neural interactions and regulatory mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Motor production and motor simulation exhibit significant interaction and overlap in neural representations.
• A "sensory mirror system" demonstrates shared representations for actual and simulated sensation.
• Flexible regulatory mechanisms exist to support congruent simulations and suppress non-congruent ones.

Conclusions:

• Both motor and somatosensory simulations are flexibly regulated to align with sensorimotor experience and goals.
• These regulatory mechanisms are crucial for maintaining sensorimotor control.
• Understanding these processes can aid in sensorimotor rehabilitation, particularly after brain injury.