Testing simulation theory with cross-modal multivariate classification of fMRI data.

ABSTRACT: The discovery of mirror neurons has suggested a potential neural basis for simulation and common coding theories of action perception, theories which propose that we understand other people's actions because perceiving their actions activates some of our neurons in much the same way as when we perform the actions. We propose testing this model directly in humans with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) by means of cross-modal classification. Cross-modal classification evaluates whether a classifier that has learned to separate stimuli in the sensory domain can also separate the stimuli in the motor domain. Successful classification provides support for simulation theories because it means that the fMRI signal, and presumably brain activity, is similar when perceiving and performin

SUBMITTER: Etzel JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2577733 | biostudies-literature | 2008

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature