Neural correlates of semantic effects on grasping familiar objects

This study used event-related fMRI to explore the neural basis of semantic involvement when performing a visually guided grasping movement. Three types of object images were presented in random order: familiar objects with handles (FH+) familiar objects without handles (FH−) and geometrical objects with a handle-like part (GH+). Subjects were then instructed to configure an appropriate hand shape for grasping the object. Common activations were found for all event types when contrasted with baseline. Activation of the anterior part of the rostral cingulate motor area was detected for only the FH+ condition and these results imply that the appropriate selection of multiple motor schemata took place in this region.