Does tool use share syntactic processes with language? Acting with a tool is thought to add a hierarchical level into the motor plan. In the linguistic domain, syntax is the cognitive function handling interdependent elements. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we detected common neurofunctional substrates in the basal ganglia subserving both tool use and syntax in language. The two abilities elicited similar patterns of neural activity, indicating the existence of shared functional resources. Manual actions and verbal working memory did not contribute to this common network. Consistent with the existence of shared neural resources, we observed bidirectional behavioral enhancement of tool use and syntactic skills in language so that training one function improves performance in the other. This reveals supramodal syntactic processes for tool use and language.

中文翻译：

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基底神经节中的工具使用和语言共享句法过程和神经模式

工具是否使用与语言共享句法过程？使用工具行动被认为可以在运动计划中添加层次结构。在语言领域，句法是处理相互依赖的元素的认知功能。使用功能性磁共振成像，我们检测到基底神经节中常见的神经功能底物，有助于工具使用和语言语法。这两种能力引发了相似的神经活动模式，表明存在共享的功能资源。手动动作和口头工作记忆对这个共同网络没有贡献。与共享神经资​​源的存在一致，我们观察到工具使用和语言语法技能的双向行为增强，因此训练一个功能可以提高另一个功能的性能。