Neurons of rat motor cortex become active during both grasping execution and grasping observation.

In non-human primates, a subset of frontoparietal neurons (mirror neurons) respond both when an individual executes an action and when it observes another individual performing a similar action. Mirror neurons constitute an observation and execution matching system likely involved in others' actions processing and in a large set of complex cognitive functions. Here, we show that the forelimb motor cortex of rats contains neurons presenting mirror properties analogous to those observed in macaques.

Finger pressure adjustments to various object configurations during precision grip in humans and monkeys.

In this study, we recorded the pressure exerted onto an object by the index finger and the thumb of the preferred hand of 18 human subjects and either hand of two macaque monkeys during a precision grasping task. The to-be-grasped object was a custom-made device composed by two plates which could be variably oriented by a motorized system while keeping constant the size and thus grip dimension. The to-be-grasped plates were covered by an array of capacitive sensors to measure specific features of finger adaptation, namely pressure intensity and centroid location and displacement.

Using Arduino microcontroller boards to measure response latencies.

Latencies of buttonpresses are a staple of cognitive science paradigms. Often keyboards are employed to collect buttonpresses, but their imprecision and variability decreases test power and increases the risk of false positives. Response boxes and data acquisition cards are precise, but expensive and inflexible, alternatives.

Complex movement topography and extrinsic space representation in the rat forelimb motor cortex as defined by long-duration intracortical microstimulation.

Electrical stimulation of the motor cortex in the rat can evoke complex forelimb multi-joint movements, including movement of limb and paw. In this study, these movements have been quantified in terms of 3D displacement and kinematic variables of two markers positioned on the wrist and middle digits (limb and paw movement, respectively). Electrical microstimulation was applied to the motor cortex using a pulse train of 500 ms duration.

Corticospinal facilitation during observation of graspable objects: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study.

In 1979, Gibson first advanced the idea that the sight of graspable objects automatically activates in the observer the repertoire of actions necessary to interact with them, even in the absence of any intention to act ("affordance effect"). The neurophysiological substrate of this effect was later identified in a class of bimodal neurons, the so-called "canonical" neurons, located within monkey premotor cortex. In humans, even if different behavioral studies supported the existence of affordance effect, neurophysiological investigations exploring its neural substrates showed contradictory results.

Leadership in orchestra emerges from the causal relationships of movement kinematics.

Non-verbal communication enables efficient transfer of information among people. In this context, classic orchestras are a remarkable instance of interaction and communication aimed at a common aesthetic goal: musicians train for years in order to acquire and share a non-linguistic framework for sensorimotor communication. To this end, we recorded violinists' and conductors' movement kinematics during execution of Mozart pieces, searching for causal relationships among musicians by using the Granger Causality method (GC).

Electromyographic activity of hand muscles in a motor coordination game: effect of incentive scheme and its relation with social capital.

Background: A vast body of social and cognitive psychology studies in humans reports evidence that external rewards, typically monetary ones, undermine intrinsic motivation. These findings challenge the standard selfish-rationality assumption at the core of economic reasoning. In the present work we aimed at investigating whether the different modulation of a given monetary reward automatically and unconsciously affects effort and performance of participants involved in a game devoid of visual and verbal interaction and without any perspective-taking activity.

A convenient and accurate parallel Input/Output USB device for E-Prime.

Psychological and neurophysiological experiments require the accurate control of timing and synchrony for Input/Output signals. For instance, a typical Event-Related Potential (ERP) study requires an extremely accurate synchronization of stimulus delivery with recordings. This is typically done via computer software such as E-Prime, and fast communications are typically assured by the Parallel Port (PP).

Temporal prediction of touch instant during observation of human and robot grasping.

The aim of the present work was to test the ability to predict the instant at which a grasping hand touches an object. Our hypothesis was that, because of the activation of the mirror-neuron system, the same predictive process necessary for action execution should be active during observation. Experimental evidence indicates, however, that not only observed actions but also observed objects automatically activate observer's motor repertoire.