Abstract #5350

Linear and non-linear BOLD effects in grip force execution are reproduced in observation

Letizia Casiraghi^1,2, Adnan AS Alahmadi ^3,4, Karl J Friston ⁵, Claudia AM Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott^6,7,8, and Egidio D'Angelo ^1,2

¹Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy, ²Brain Connectivity Center, C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Pavia, Italy, ³Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, KAU, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, ⁴UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square MS center, University College London, London, United Kingdom, ⁵UCL Institute of Neurology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, United Kingdom, ⁶Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy, ⁷UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square MS Centre, University College London, London, United Kingdom, ⁸Brain MRI 3T Mondino Research Center, C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Pavia, Italy

In this pilot study, we investigated whether the non-linear BOLD response to varying grip force (GF) is reproduced when observing others performing the task. We used an fMRI squeezeball paradigm with two conditions: action execution (AE - subjects performed the task) and action observation (AO - subjects watched a video of the task). In both conditions, activations were detected in areas constituting the action execution-observation network and both areas evidenced linear and non-linear relations with the GF. These results indicate that action observation calls on the same context sensitive and high level processing necessary for execution.

This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.

Join Here