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Observing Grasping Actions Directed to Emotion-Laden Objects: Effects upon Corticospinal Excitability
Anaelli A Nogueira-Campos1, Ghislain Saunier2, Valeria Della-Maggiore3
1Department of Physiology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|September 15, 2016
Summary
Observing actions involving emotion-laden objects influences the motor system. Specifically, viewing grasping of unpleasant objects increases corticospinal excitability (CSE) more than pleasant ones.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- The motor system is active during both action execution and observation.
- Emotion's modulation of the motor system is known, but observing actions in emotional contexts is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how observing grasping actions directed at emotion-laden objects affects corticospinal excitability (CSE).
Main Methods:
- Participants viewed video clips of grasping actions towards objects varying in valence (pleasant vs. unpleasant) but balanced in arousal.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measured motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from the first dorsal interosseous muscle.
- TMS pulses were applied during key grasping phases: maximum grip aperture and object contact.
Main Results:
- CSE was significantly higher when participants observed grasping of unpleasant objects compared to pleasant objects.
- Object valence, not arousal, specifically modulated motor system activity during action observation.
Conclusions:
- The valence of objects influences motor system modulation during the observation of grasping actions.
- This suggests that emotional context plays a role in how we process observed actions.
