The control of imitative behaviour and its relationship with self-other-distinction: a lesion study

Previous studies conducted with neuroimaging and on frontal patient populations have shown that, contrary to expectations, the inhibition of imitative behavior does not necessitate regions and mechanisms needed in response inhibition (Brass, Derfuss & von Cramon, 2005). Conversely, the control of imitative behavior activates regions (the anterior fronto-median cortex and the temporo-parietal junction), which are thought to be necessary to distinguish self- and other- generated actions and motor representations (Decety et al., 2002), to shift one's perspective (Ruby & Decety, 2001) and to support mentalizing in t…