caa a22 4500 445351578 CHVBK 20180317142845.0 cr unu---uuuuu 170323e20110601xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s00221-011-2650-y doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s00221-011-2650-y Corticospinal excitability is specifically modulated by the social dimension of observed actions [Elektronische Daten] [Luisa Sartori, Andrea Cavallo, Giulia Bucchioni, Umberto Castiello] A large body of research reports that perceiving body movements of other people activates motor representations in the observer's brain. This automatic resonance mechanism appears to be imitative in nature. However, action observation does not inevitably lead to symmetrical motor facilitation: mirroring the observed movement might be disadvantageous for successfully performing joint actions. In two experiments, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to investigate whether the excitability of the corticospinal system was selectively modulated by the social dimension of an observed action. We recorded motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) from right-hand muscles during the observation of an action sequence which, depending on context, might or might not elicit a complementary response. The results demonstrate a differential motor facilitation depending on action context. Specifically, when the context called for a complementary action, the excitability pattern reflected the under-threshold activation of a complementary action, whereas when the context did not imply acting in a complementary manner, the observer's corticospinal activity reflected symmetrical motor resonance. We contend that the mechanisms underlying action observation are flexible and respond to contextual factors that guide the social interaction between individuals beyond emulation. Springer-Verlag, 2011 Action observation nationallicence Transcranial magnetic stimulation nationallicence Complementary actions nationallicence Reach to grasp nationallicence Mirror neuron system nationallicence Sartori Luisa Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy aut Cavallo Andrea Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Science, University of Torino, Turin, Italy aut Bucchioni Giulia Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy aut Castiello Umberto Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy aut Experimental Brain Research Springer-Verlag 211/3-4(2011-06-01), 557-568 0014-4819 211:3-4<557 2011 211 221 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-011-2650-y text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-011-2650-y text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Sartori Luisa Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Cavallo Andrea Department of Psychology, Centre for Cognitive Science, University of Torino, Turin, Italy aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Bucchioni Giulia Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Castiello Umberto Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Experimental Brain Research Springer-Verlag 211/3-4(2011-06-01), 557-568 0014-4819 211:3-4<557 2011 211 221 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer