End or Means? – Attentional Modulation of the Human Mirror Neuron System

Introduction: The mirror neuron system (MNS) has been suggested to subserve action understanding and learning [1]. Whether it is triggered by action goals or means remains to be elucidated: The MNS is activated by static images of action goals [2] as well as actions with invisible outcome [3]. Here we tested whether attention directed to the means or the end of an intentional movement has differential effects on the MNS. Methods: 20 right-handed volunteers (10 m, 18–37 y) watched video sequences of 24s each, in which hands were shown from two different perspectives placing a cube from left to right and vice vers…