250Â ms to code for action affordance during observation of manipulable objects

► 300 objects were presented, matched for perceptual familiarity, size and luminance. ► The ventral stream (BA19 and 37) was similarly activated for all objects. ► Only tools activated the left postcentral gyrus (BA3) and the premotor cortex (BA6). ► Tool perception automatically activates motor affordance as early as 210 ms.