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The Perception of Actions: Its Putative Effect on Neural Plasticity

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Neuronal Plasticity: Building a Bridge from the Laboratory to the Clinic

Part of the book series: Research and Perspectives in Neurosciences ((NEUROSCIENCE))

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Summary

This chapter proposes that not only is bottom-up processing liable to affect cortical maps but top-down processing might also play a role. I will argue that the cognitive and neural mechanisms involved in the perception of human actions are worth investigating from a cognitive neuroscience perspective. I will marshal behavioral studies, physiological recordings in monkeys and positron emission tomography (PET) experiments in humans for a better and integrated understanding of the neural bases of perception of biological motion. I propose that top-down processing may have an effect on brain plasticity. Perception of action is also relevant to a contemporary theory of mind. Therefore, a final section deals with its implications for cognitive neuropsychiatry.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mental processes and brain activation - Inserm Unit 280, 151 cours Albert Thomas, 69424, Lyon cedex 03, France

    J. Decety

  2. Cermep, 59 Bld Pinel, 69003, Lyon, France

    J. Decety

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  1. J. Decety
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  1. Cognitive Neuroscience Section, Medical Neurology Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 5C205, 10 Center Drive MSC 1440, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1440, USA

    J. Grafman Ph.D.

  2. Pour la Recherche Thérapeutique, Fondation IPSEN, 24, rue Erlanger, 75781, Paris Cedex 16, France

    Yves Christen Ph.D.

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Decety, J. (1999). The Perception of Actions: Its Putative Effect on Neural Plasticity. In: Grafman, J., Christen, Y. (eds) Neuronal Plasticity: Building a Bridge from the Laboratory to the Clinic. Research and Perspectives in Neurosciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59897-5_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-59897-5_8

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