Engaging distributed cortical and cerebellar networks through motor execution, observation, and imagery

When we interact with the environment around us, we are sometimes active participants, making directed physical motor movements and other times only mentally engaging with our environment, taking in sensory information and internally planning our next move without directed physical movement. Traditi...

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Main Authors: Julia U. Henschke, Janelle M. P. Pakan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2023.1165307/full
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author Julia U. Henschke
Julia U. Henschke
Janelle M. P. Pakan
Janelle M. P. Pakan
Janelle M. P. Pakan
author_facet Julia U. Henschke
Julia U. Henschke
Janelle M. P. Pakan
Janelle M. P. Pakan
Janelle M. P. Pakan
author_sort Julia U. Henschke
collection DOAJ
description When we interact with the environment around us, we are sometimes active participants, making directed physical motor movements and other times only mentally engaging with our environment, taking in sensory information and internally planning our next move without directed physical movement. Traditionally, cortical motor regions and key subcortical structures such as the cerebellum have been tightly linked to motor initiation, coordination, and directed motor behavior. However, recent neuroimaging studies have noted the activation of the cerebellum and wider cortical networks specifically during various forms of motor processing, including the observations of actions and mental rehearsal of movements through motor imagery. This phenomenon of cognitive engagement of traditional motor networks raises the question of how these brain regions are involved in the initiation of movement without physical motor output. Here, we will review evidence for distributed brain network activation during motor execution, observation, and imagery in human neuroimaging studies as well as the potential for cerebellar involvement specifically in motor-related cognition. Converging evidence suggests that a common global brain network is involved in both movement execution and motor observation or imagery, with specific task-dependent shifts in these global activation patterns. We will further discuss underlying cross-species anatomical support for these cognitive motor-related functions as well as the role of cerebrocerebellar communication during action observation and motor imagery.
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spelling doaj.art-b44f24e1c0534ff98ac625961bf152622023-04-11T04:41:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience1662-51372023-04-011710.3389/fnsys.2023.11653071165307Engaging distributed cortical and cerebellar networks through motor execution, observation, and imageryJulia U. Henschke0Julia U. Henschke1Janelle M. P. Pakan2Janelle M. P. Pakan3Janelle M. P. Pakan4Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, GermanyGerman Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Magdeburg, GermanyInstitute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, GermanyGerman Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Magdeburg, GermanyCenter for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Universitätsplatz, Magdeburg, GermanyWhen we interact with the environment around us, we are sometimes active participants, making directed physical motor movements and other times only mentally engaging with our environment, taking in sensory information and internally planning our next move without directed physical movement. Traditionally, cortical motor regions and key subcortical structures such as the cerebellum have been tightly linked to motor initiation, coordination, and directed motor behavior. However, recent neuroimaging studies have noted the activation of the cerebellum and wider cortical networks specifically during various forms of motor processing, including the observations of actions and mental rehearsal of movements through motor imagery. This phenomenon of cognitive engagement of traditional motor networks raises the question of how these brain regions are involved in the initiation of movement without physical motor output. Here, we will review evidence for distributed brain network activation during motor execution, observation, and imagery in human neuroimaging studies as well as the potential for cerebellar involvement specifically in motor-related cognition. Converging evidence suggests that a common global brain network is involved in both movement execution and motor observation or imagery, with specific task-dependent shifts in these global activation patterns. We will further discuss underlying cross-species anatomical support for these cognitive motor-related functions as well as the role of cerebrocerebellar communication during action observation and motor imagery.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2023.1165307/fullmotor imagerycerebrocerebellarneuroimagingmotor networkaction observationmotor execution
spellingShingle Julia U. Henschke
Julia U. Henschke
Janelle M. P. Pakan
Janelle M. P. Pakan
Janelle M. P. Pakan
Engaging distributed cortical and cerebellar networks through motor execution, observation, and imagery
Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience
motor imagery
cerebrocerebellar
neuroimaging
motor network
action observation
motor execution
title Engaging distributed cortical and cerebellar networks through motor execution, observation, and imagery
title_full Engaging distributed cortical and cerebellar networks through motor execution, observation, and imagery
title_fullStr Engaging distributed cortical and cerebellar networks through motor execution, observation, and imagery
title_full_unstemmed Engaging distributed cortical and cerebellar networks through motor execution, observation, and imagery
title_short Engaging distributed cortical and cerebellar networks through motor execution, observation, and imagery
title_sort engaging distributed cortical and cerebellar networks through motor execution observation and imagery
topic motor imagery
cerebrocerebellar
neuroimaging
motor network
action observation
motor execution
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2023.1165307/full
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