biostudies-literatureUnknown43(14)Ziccarelli SAction observation typically recruits visual areas and dorsal and ventral sectors of the parietal and premotor cortex. This network has been collectively termed as extended action observation network (eAON). Within this network, the elaboration of kinematic aspects of biological motion is crucial. Previous studies investigated these aspects by presenting subjects with point-light displays (PLDs) videos of whole-body movements, showing the recruitment of some of the eAON areas. However, studies focused on cortical activation during observation of PLDs grasping actions are lacking. In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we assessed the activation of eAON in healthy participants during the observation of both PLDs and fully visible hand grasping actions, excluding Human brain mapping4293-4309https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9435013biostudies-literatureDecoding point-light displays and fully visible hand grasping actions within the action observation network.PMC9435013Ziccarelli SFogassi LErrante AfalseDecoding point-light displays and fully visible hand grasping actions within the action observation network.Action observation typically recruits visual areas and dorsal and ventral sectors of the parietal and premotor cortex. This network has been collectively termed as extended action observation network (eAON). Within this network, the elaboration of kinematic aspects of biological motion is crucial. Previous studies investigated these aspects by presenting subjects with point-light displays (PLDs) videos of whole-body movements, showing the recruitment of some of the eAON areas. However, studies focused on cortical activation during observation of PLDs grasping actions are lacking. In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we assessed the activation of eAON in healthy participants during the observation of both PLDs and fully visible hand grasping actions, excluding 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Oct2025-04-18T18:24:22.782Z2025-04-07T06:02:25.545ZS-EPMC94350133561140710.1002/hbm.25954