Abstract
The discovery of ‘mirror’ neurons stimulated intense interest in the role of motor processes in social interaction. A popular assumption is that observation-related motor activation, exemplified by mirror neurons’ matching properties, evolved to subserve the ‘understanding’ of others’ actions. Alternatively, such motor activation may result from sensorimotor learning. Sensorimotor training alters observation-related motor activation, but studies demonstrating training-dependent changes in motor activation have not addressed the functional role of such activation. We therefore tested whether sensorimotor learning alters action understanding. Participants completed an action understanding task, judging the weight of boxes lifted by another person, before and after ‘counter-mirror’ sensorimotor training. During this training they lifted heavy boxes while observing light boxes being lifted, and vice-versa. Compared to a control group, this training significantly reduced participants’ action understanding ability. Performance on a duration judgement task was unaffected by training. These data suggest the ability to understand others’ actions results from sensorimotor learning.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 10-14 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Cognition |
Volume | 171 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2018 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council [grant number ES/K00140X/1 to CC]. The funder had no involvement in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier B.V.
Keywords
- Action understanding
- Mirror neuron
- Motor system
- Sensorimotor learning
- Social cognition
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Language and Linguistics
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Linguistics and Language
- Cognitive Neuroscience