Resting‐State Functional Interactions Between the Action Observation Network and the Mentalizing System

• Published in: The European journal of neuroscience Vol. 61; no. 6; pp. e70082 - n/a
• Main Authors: Simone, Luciano, Pierotti, Enrica, Satta, Eleonora, Becchio, Cristina, Turella, Luca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.03.2025; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: action observation network; Adult; Brain - physiology; Cognition; Connectivity; Connectome; Female; fMRI; functional connectivity; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Mental disorders; Mentalization - physiology; mentalizing system; Nerve Net - diagnostic imaging; Nerve Net - physiology; Neural networks; Research Report; Rest; resting state; social cognition; Social interactions; Theory of Mind - physiology; Young Adult; fMRI; resting state; functional connectivity; social cognition; mentalizing system; action observation network
• ISSN: 0953-816X; 1460-9568; 1460-9568
• DOI: 10.1111/ejn.70082

ABSTRACT Human social functioning is thought to rely on the action observation network (AON) and the mentalizing system (MS). It is debated whether AON and MS are functionally separate or if they interact. To this end, we combined resting‐state connectivity with task‐based fMRI to characterize the functional connectome within and between these systems. In detail, we computed resting‐state connectivity within and between the AON and MS using single subject‐defined regions of interest (ROIs). Our results showed a positive coupling between ROIs within each system and negative coupling between the two systems, supporting the existence of two independent networks at rest. Still, two regions (pSTS, aIFG) showed hybrid coupling, connecting with regions of both systems, suggesting that they might mediate cross‐network communication. This characterization of the interplay between MS and AON in the healthy brain might provide the starting point to further investigate aberrant “connectivity” fingerprints associated with neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by impairments in social cognition. Our results describe the action observation network (AON) and the mentalizing system (MS) as two segregated networks, with two main sites of interaction—pSTS and aIFG—which might act as integration hubs between the two systems.