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Neural Correlates of Action Perception: Brain Structure, Function, and Behavior

Award Number: F31MH086179
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2010
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2013

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Neural Correlates of Action Perception: Brain Structure, Function, and Behavior - The proposed research will compare behavior, functional brain responses, and anatomical connectivity in the mirror system in macaques, chimpanzees, and humans. The mirror system is thought to underlie action understanding by allowing individuals to simulate others' actions as if they were performing them. However, several unresolved issues limit the extent to which the mirror system can be linked to human social cognition. First, macaque mirror system results are largely replicated. Second, the equivalence between macaque and human results is unclear because they involve different methodologies. Third, macaque and human mirror system responses differ, with only the human mirror system responding to actions that do not involve objects. Fourth, macaques lack some behaviors which have been linked to the mirror system in humans, most notably imitation. This proposal will address the first two issues by validating basic macaque mirror system findings using a methodology comparable to those used in humans. It will address the second two issues by directly investigating how mirror system responses and connectivity differ among primate species. The main hypothesis is that an evolved broadening in mirror system response properties, via increased connectivity with other brain networks, allowed these cells to respond to, and thus simulate, a wider variety of observed stimuli. This hypothesis will be tested using a combination of behavioral tasks, in vivo functional neuroimaging, and structural diffusion tensor imaging. Aim 1 will employ 18F-FDG positron emission tomography to compare the neural correlates of the execution and observation of actions with and without objects in macaques and chimpanzees. Aim 1 will also procure behavioral indices of imitation ability in each subject. Aim 2 will use diffusion tensor imaging to compare white matter pathways linking the components of the mirror system in macaques, chimpanzees, and humans. The behavioral and functional brain responses obtained in Aim 1 will be compared to the anatomical results obtained in Aim 2. In this way, species and individual differences in imitation ability can be linked to differences in brain responses and anatomical connectivity.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = -$383 )
2017	2012	EMORY UNIVERSITY	1599 CLIFTON RD.	ATLANTA	GA	30322	DEKALB	USA	Mental Health National Research Service Awards for Research Training	000	3	5/15/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$383
														Subtotal = -$383

Issue Date FY: 2013 ( Subtotal = -$3,672 )
2013	2012	EMORY UNIVERSITY	1784 N DECATUR RD,S 530 NDBLDG	ATLANTA	GA	30322	DEKALB	USA	Mental Health National Research Service Awards for Research Training	000	3	5/1/2013	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$3,672
														Subtotal = -$3,672

Issue Date FY: 2012 ( Subtotal = $30,799 )
2012	2012	EMORY UNIVERSITY	1784 N DECATUR RD,S 530 NDBLDG	ATLANTA	GA	30322	DEKALB	USA	Mental Health National Research Service Awards for Research Training	000	3	4/5/2012	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$30,799
														Subtotal = $30,799

Issue Date FY: 2011 ( Subtotal = $30,300 )
2011	2011	EMORY UNIVERSITY	1784 N DECATUR RD,S 530 NDBLDG	ATLANTA	GA	30322	DEKALB	USA	Mental Health National Research Service Awards for Research Training	001	2	5/6/2011	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$420
2011	2011	EMORY UNIVERSITY	1784 N DECATUR RD,S 530 NDBLDG	ATLANTA	GA	30322	DEKALB	USA	Mental Health National Research Service Awards for Research Training	000	2	3/3/2011	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$29,880
														Subtotal = $30,300

Issue Date FY: 2010 ( Subtotal = $29,814 )
2010	2010	EMORY UNIVERSITY	1784 N DECATUR RD,S 530 NDBLDG	ATLANTA	GA	30322	DEKALB	USA	Mental Health National Research Service Awards for Research Training	000	1	3/23/2010	NEW	$29,814
2010	2010	EMORY UNIVERSITY	1784 N DECATUR RD,S 530 NDBLDG	ATLANTA	GA	30322	DEKALB	USA	Mental Health National Research Service Awards for Research Training	001	1	3/23/2010	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $29,814

Grand Total All Awards = $86,858

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Neural Correlates of Action Perception: Brain Structure, Function, and Behavior

Award Number: F31MH086179

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2010

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 01/31/2013

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