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Science 29 April 2005:
Vol. 308. no. 5722, pp. 662 - 667
DOI: 10.1126/science.1106138
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Research Articles

Parietal Lobe: From Action Organization to Intention Understanding

Leonardo Fogassi,1,2* Pier Francesco Ferrari,2 Benno Gesierich,2 Stefano Rozzi,2 Fabian Chersi,2 Giacomo Rizzolatti2

Inferior parietal lobule (IPL) neurons were studied when monkeys performed motor acts embedded in different actions and when they observed similar acts done by an experimenter. Most motor IPL neurons coding a specific act (e.g., grasping) showed markedly different activations when this act was part of different actions (e.g., for eating or for placing). Many motor IPL neurons also discharged during the observation of acts done by others. Most responded differentially when the same observed act was embedded in a specific action. These neurons fired during the observation of an act, before the beginning of the subsequent acts specifying the action. Thus, these neurons not only code the observed motor act but also allow the observer to understand the agent's intentions.

1 Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Parma, Borgo Carissimi 10, 43100 Parma, Italy.
2 Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università di Parma, via Volturno 39, 43100 Parma, Italy.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: fogassi{at}unipr.it

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)