The human execution/observation matching system investigated with a complex everyday task: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) study

The investigation of brain areas involved in the human execution/observation matching system (EOM) has been limited to restricted motor actions when using common neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A method which overcomes this limitation is functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). In the present study, we explored the cerebral responses underlying action execution and observation during a complex everyday task. We measured brain activation of 39 participants during the performance of object-related reaching, grasping and displacing movements, namely setting and clearing a table, and observation of the same task from different perspectives. Observation of the table-setting task activated parts of a network matching those activated during execution of the task. Specifically, observation from an egocentric perspective led to a higher activation in the inferior parietal cortex than observation from an allocentric perspective, implicating that the viewpoint also influences the EOM during the observation of complex everyday tasks. Together these findings suggest that fNIRS is able to overcome the restrictions of common imaging methods by investigating the EOM with a naturalistic task.

► fNIRS is capable to investigate the human execution/observation matching system by using a complex everyday task (table setting).
► Observation of the task activated parts of a network matching those activated during execution of the same task.
► Execution/observation matching areas were found in the inferior parietal lobule and in the posterior superior temporal sulcus.
► Observation from egocentric perspective led to higher activation in the inferior parietal lobule than observation from allocentric perspective.