Koelewijn Thomas, van Schie Hein T, Bekkering Harold, Oostenveld Robert, Jensen Ole
F.C. Donders Center for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101 NL-6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Department of Cognitive Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Nijmegen Institute for Cognition and Information, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Behavioral Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Neuroimage. 2008 Apr 1;40(2):767-775. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.12.018. Epub 2007 Dec 23.
Recent research has demonstrated that cortical motor areas are engaged when observing motor actions of others. However, little is known about the possible contribution of the motor system for evaluating the correctness of others' actions. To address this question we designed an MEG experiment in which subjects were executing and observing motor actions with and without errors. In the execution task subjects were asked to make speeded button presses according to instruction cues. During the observation task, they viewed pictures of an actor's hand making button presses which were correct or incorrect according to the cues. Time-frequency representations of the MEG data demonstrated a depression in oscillatory activity in the beta band activity (15-35 Hz) during execution followed by a beta rebound that was stronger for incorrect compared to correct executions. During the observation task, a similar time-course of the beta activity was identified and importantly the modulations were stronger for the observation of incorrect than correct actions. Sources accounting for the difference in beta activity between correct and incorrect actions were localized using a beamforming technique. Both for the execution and observation conditions sources were identified to the dorsal motor areas comprising both primary and pre-motor cortex. Our findings demonstrate that not only is cortical motor activity modulated by action observation, but the modulation increases when the observed action is erroneous. This suggests that the motor system is engaged in evaluating the correctness of the actions of others.
最近的研究表明，在观察他人的运动行为时，皮层运动区域会被激活。然而，关于运动系统在评估他人动作正确性方面可能发挥的作用，我们却知之甚少。为了解决这个问题，我们设计了一项脑磁图（MEG）实验，让受试者执行和观察有错误与无错误的运动行为。在执行任务中，受试者被要求根据指令提示快速按下按钮。在观察任务中，他们观看演员手部根据提示正确或错误按下按钮的图片。MEG数据的时频表征显示，在执行过程中，β波段活动（15 - 35赫兹）的振荡活动出现抑制，随后出现β反弹，与正确执行相比，错误执行后的β反弹更强。在观察任务中，也发现了类似的β活动时间进程，重要的是，观察错误动作时的调制比观察正确动作时更强。使用波束形成技术对正确和错误动作之间β活动差异的来源进行了定位。在执行和观察条件下，都确定了包括初级运动皮层和运动前皮层在内的背侧运动区域是差异来源。我们的研究结果表明，不仅皮层运动活动会受到动作观察的调制，而且当观察到的动作有误时，这种调制会增强。这表明运动系统参与了对他人动作正确性的评估。
