UCLA Brain Mapping Center

Publications

Mapping motor representations with positron emission tomography.

Decety J; Perani D; Jeannerod M; Bettinardi V; Tadary B; Woods R; Mazziotta JC; Fazio F;
Nature. 1994-Oct-13; 371(600-2):6498
 
Brain activity was mapped in normal subjects during passive observation of the movements of an 'alien' hand and while imagining grasping objects with their own hand. None of the tasks required actual movement. Shifting from one mental task to the other greatly changed the pattern of brain activation. During observation of hand movements, activation was mainly found in visual cortical areas, but also in subcortical areas involved in motor behaviour, such as the basal ganglia and the cerebellum. During motor imagery, cortical and subcortical areas related to motor preparation and programming were strongly activated. These data support the notion that motor learning during observation of movements and mental practice involves rehearsal of neural pathways related to cognitive stages of motor control.
 
PMID: 7935791    doi: 10.1038/371600a0
 

BMAP Author