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Abstract:
Abstract: Tools are different from other objects in that they
are strongly associated with specific hand movements. If the brain
stores information about objects according to their attributes,
then access to information about motor-based properties should be
especially important for identifying manipulable man-made objects
such as tools. We examined this hypothesis in the current study by
collecting functional magnetic resonance images (fMRI) as subjects
viewed photographs of tools, houses, animals, and faces (N = 5) or
named photographs of tools and animals (N = 5). In addition to
replicating our previous findings of category-related activity in
the posterior temporal cortex, we also found tool-selective
activity in left ventral premotor and left posterior parietal
cortices. During the viewing and naming tasks, tools produced an
enhanced response in these regions relative to all other object
types. Broca's area was also active during the naming task;
however, this response was not category-specific. Because activity
in premotor and posterior parietal cortices have been associated
with the control and manipulation of hand movements, and because
there are direct connections between the visual motion-sensitive
area MT, posterior parietal, and premotor cortices, these areas may
form a network for linking perception and action. In turn, our
ability to recognize and identify tools and other manipulable
man-made artifacts may require activation of this network.
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