Understanding the object-directed actions of conspecifics not only implies recognition of the object (e.g., a pen) and processing of the motor components (e.g., grip configuration), but also identification of the functional goal of the action (e.g., writing). Motor components and goal representations are both known to be critically involved in action recognition, but how the brain integrates these two pieces of information remains unclear. Action priming was used to tune the cognitive system to the integration of grip and goal representations. We evaluated the effect of briefly presented primes sharing grip and/or goal information with the target on recognition of action photographs. Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied at target onset over the inferior frontal cortex (IFC) or the inferior parietal lobule (IPL) to evaluate their involvement in integrating grip and goal information. IFC and IPL stimulation specifically reduced integration of these two pieces of information. These results demonstrate, for the first time, the existence of specialized neuronal populations dedicated to grip/goal integration within a fronto-parietal network, supporting the importance given to this network by sensorimotor and predictive models of action recognition.

理解特定对象的面向对象的动作不仅意味着对象（例如笔）的识别和电机组件的处理（例如握把配置），而且还包括动作的功能目标的标识（例如书写）。众所周知，运动成分和目标表示都与动作识别密切相关，但大脑如何整合这两条信息仍不清楚。动作启动被用来调整认知系统，以结合握力和目标表示。我们评估了简短呈现的素数与目标共享握力和/或目标信息对识别动作照片的影响。在下额叶皮层（IFC）或下顶叶小叶（IPL）的目标发作时应用单脉冲经颅磁刺激（TMS），以评估它们在整合抓地力和目标信息方面的参与。IFC和IPL刺激专门减少了这两条信息的整合。这些结果首次证明，存在专门的额叶顶神经网络内的抓握/目标整合神经元群体，这支持了感觉运动和动作识别模型对这一网络的重要性。