NeuroImagePub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121795
Yujuan Zu , Tao Pang , Lingxue Luo , Chao Liufu , Zixuan Xu , Wenqiang Li , Ying Qian , Luxian Lv , Suhua Chang
{"title":"Common multimodal neuroimaging mechanism of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and sleep initiation difficulty in the developing brain","authors":"Yujuan Zu , Tao Pang , Lingxue Luo , Chao Liufu , Zixuan Xu , Wenqiang Li , Ying Qian , Luxian Lv , Suhua Chang","doi":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121795","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121795","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder. Studies indicate that 20–55 % of individuals with ADHD experience comorbid sleep disturbances, among which, sleep initiation difficulty (SID) is highly correlated with hyperactivity behaviors. However, the underlying neuroimaging mechanisms common to ADHD and sleep initiation difficulty remain poorly understood.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study used multimodal neuroimaging data and ADHD, SID phenotype data from the ABCD Study (<em>n</em> = 11,868; 52.1 % male) to identify neuroimaging markers common to both conditions using linear regression. Then, these common neuroimaging features were analyzed across different ADHD trajectory groups, which were determined by latent class growth analysis (LCGA). Random-intercepts cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) were further used to examine their longitudinal relationships.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Inter-network connectivity between the dorsal attention network and default mode network (DMN-DAN) from rest-fMRI, specific cortico-striatal-thalamic circuits involving the right orbitofrontal cortex volume from brain structural imaging and several major white matter tracts were significantly associated with both ADHD symptoms and SID. These neuroimaging markers collectively mediated the relationship between ADHD and SID. Furthermore, three distinct ADHD trajectories were identified and showed different association pattern with neuroimaging features and lagged effects between ADHD and SID.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Through multimodal neuroimaging analyses of ADHD and SID, we identified common neural substrates, which mediated the effect of ADHD symptoms on SID, and exhibited distinct patterns across different ADHD trajectory subgroups. The results suggest that common neural architecture and its dynamic expression may underlie the neurobiological link between ADHD and SID.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19299,"journal":{"name":"NeuroImage","volume":"328 ","pages":"Article 121795"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146150313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroImagePub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-13DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121812
Adriana Böttcher , Paul Wendiggensen , Moritz Mückschel , Sven Hoffmann , Claudia Buss , Michael Kölch , Inga Körte , Shu-Chen Li , Volker Mall , Peter Marschik , Maximilian Pilhatsch , Veit Roessner , Saskia Rusche , Christian Beste
{"title":"Standardizing EEG preprocessing for cross-site integration - the CLEAN pipeline","authors":"Adriana Böttcher , Paul Wendiggensen , Moritz Mückschel , Sven Hoffmann , Claudia Buss , Michael Kölch , Inga Körte , Shu-Chen Li , Volker Mall , Peter Marschik , Maximilian Pilhatsch , Veit Roessner , Saskia Rusche , Christian Beste","doi":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121812","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121812","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electroencephalography (EEG) is a powerful tool for investigating neural processes underlying cognition and neuropsychiatric disorders. Yet, variability in EEG preprocessing strategies restricts reproducibility and data integration across study sites and laboratories, particularly in larger research consortia. This paper introduces the CLEAN-EEG preprocessing pipeline, designed to standardize data processing and documentation across multiple sites. The CLEAN pipeline is implemented in MATLAB using EEGLAB. It comprises three modular, script-based stages: main preprocessing (including down-sampling, filtering, line noise removal, and channel interpolation), independent component analysis preparation and decomposition with flexible options for artifact rejection or neural component extraction, and component exclusion with support for automated classification and dipole fitting. Emphasis is placed on transparency through comprehensive logging and quality-control plotting, as well as on minimizing rank reduction to preserve data suitability for advanced analyses such as source localization and connectivity modeling. By providing clear, adaptable recommendations while ensuring detailed documentation of every step, the CLEAN pipeline aims to harmonize EEG preprocessing in large-scale, multi-center studies. This open and reproducible approach facilitates high throughput analyses, supports the training of researchers, and enables the rigorous integration of neurophysiological data across study sites, study designs, and populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19299,"journal":{"name":"NeuroImage","volume":"328 ","pages":"Article 121812"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146201934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroImagePub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121770
Maoqin Peng , Wei Zhao , Pengrui Li , Haokai Zhang , Liu Deng , Yun Qin , Tiejun Liu
{"title":"Alpha-band temporal variability in the Fronto-parietal network facilitates active recovery from mental fatigue","authors":"Maoqin Peng , Wei Zhao , Pengrui Li , Haokai Zhang , Liu Deng , Yun Qin , Tiejun Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121770","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121770","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mental fatigue from prolonged cognitive tasks impairs performance, yet this decline is often non-linear. This suggests the brain engages active self-regulatory mechanisms to recover, though the neural basis of this recovery process remains unclear. We investigated this phenomenon using electroencephalography (EEG) during a continuous 120-minute boundary avoidance task. Behaviorally, we confirmed a non-linear performance curve that featured a significant recovery stage following an initial decline. The decline stage showed classic neural fatigue signatures, including increased delta and alpha power alongside reduced brain network efficiency. However, the recovery stage did not simply reverse these patterns. Instead, it involved a distinct increase in the temporal variability of alpha-band functional connectivity within the fronto-parietal network (FPN). We found that this heightened FPN variability, interacting with alpha power, directly predicted behavioral recovery. These findings expand our view of cognitive resilience. We propose that resilience is not merely passive resistance to fatigue but an active process of compensatory control driven by dynamic network flexibility. Thus, increased FPN variability likely serves as an intrinsic neural response that facilitates behavioral recovery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19299,"journal":{"name":"NeuroImage","volume":"328 ","pages":"Article 121770"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146113929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroImagePub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121769
Dai Zhang , Rong Wang , Liqin Zhou , Ke Zhou , Zhentao Zuo , Guochen Sun
{"title":"Biphasic adaptation of gBOLD-CSF coupling during sleep deprivation reflects compensatory enhancement and temporal disruption in glymphatic function","authors":"Dai Zhang , Rong Wang , Liqin Zhou , Ke Zhou , Zhentao Zuo , Guochen Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121769","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121769","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sleep deprivation (SD) significantly impacts brain function, particularly through disruption of the glymphatic system, an essential mechanism for cerebral metabolic waste clearance dependent on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics. Recent advances link CSF flow to global brain activity, measurable via global blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (gBOLD) signals. However, how gBOLD-CSF coupling changes during prolonged wakefulness remains unclear. Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), we investigated how 36-hour sleep deprivation affects gBOLD-CSF coupling in healthy participants. We observed a significant transient increase in gBOLD-CSF coupling strength as sleep deprivation progressed, peaking after approximately 30 h of wakefulness. Importantly, changes in coupling strength correlated quantitatively with heightened subjective sleep pressure but not with vigilance performance. Furthermore, SD induced a temporary phase shift in CSF signal timing relative to gBOLD, indicating disrupted temporal coordination. These results suggest that SD triggers both a transient enhancement and a temporal instability in neuro-fluid coupling, reflecting a biphasic modulation of brain–CSF coupling linked to glymphatic-related dynamics. Our findings reveal novel compensatory adjustments within the glymphatic system during prolonged wakefulness, advancing our understanding of the physiological underpinnings linking sleep loss, metabolic clearance, and brain function, with potential implications for cognitive health and neurodegenerative disease risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19299,"journal":{"name":"NeuroImage","volume":"328 ","pages":"Article 121769"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146116656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroImagePub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121767
Eszter Radics , Tímea Lázár , Marah Qussous , Szilvia Kiss-Dala , Marie Anne Engh , Péter Hegyi , Szabolcs Kéri , András Attila Horváth
{"title":"Morphological and microstructural brain changes induced by cognitive training among non-demented participants: a systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Eszter Radics , Tímea Lázár , Marah Qussous , Szilvia Kiss-Dala , Marie Anne Engh , Péter Hegyi , Szabolcs Kéri , András Attila Horváth","doi":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121767","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121767","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Cognitive training is a widely recommended technique for cognitive decline and has been shown to improve cognitive functioning. However, the findings on its effect on objective biomarkers of cognitive impairment are highly ambiguous. This study therefore aims to clarify how cognitive training alters brain structure and physiology.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A systematic search was conducted in three databases (MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL) for eligible articles in November 2023. The search identified 6.134 articles from which 501 remained after title and abstract selection. Eight articles were identified that assessed the efficacy of cognitive training on objective parameters in non-demented adults. Mean differences (MD) and standardized mean differences (SMD of changes between pre- and post-training data were calculated using random-effects models.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>4767 records remained after the removal of duplicates. The selection process ended with 40 eligible articles for qualitative and 8 for quantitative analysis. We did not identify enough articles for the analysis of PET, functional MRI and fluid-based parameters. No significant differences were found in fractional anisotropy (MD=0.01, 95 % Confidence interval (CI): -0.01; 0.04) or in hippocampal volume (SMD=0.03, 95 % CI: -0.01; 0.06). Heterogeneity was high in all analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Training groups showed no significant morphological or microstructural modifications compared to control conditions. The current results of objective markers are not powerful enough to recommend cognitive training as a preventive method. Future research should focus on proper randomization, elimination of baseline differences and use standardized techniques. The review was pre-registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023485440).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19299,"journal":{"name":"NeuroImage","volume":"328 ","pages":"Article 121767"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146097281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroImagePub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121773
Ruoyu Niu , Yanan Li , Lei Liu , Yafeng Pan , Ying Liu
{"title":"Hierarchical neurobehavioral model reveals that shared flexibility, not individual stability, supports rhythmic coordination","authors":"Ruoyu Niu , Yanan Li , Lei Liu , Yafeng Pan , Ying Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121773","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121773","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interpersonal coordination requires balancing individual control with interaction-derived synergy, yet it remains unclear when neural coupling contributes beyond behavior. Using an fNIRS hyperscanning paradigm, we examined dyadic rhythmic coordination and jointly modeled behavioral stability, dispositional structure, and interbrain synchrony within a hierarchical neurobehavioral framework. Across models, mean individual stability was negatively associated with dyadic performance, whereas interaction-derived shared flexibility (i.e., dyad-level behavioral stability synergy) was the most robust positive predictor. Incorporating dispositional structure showed that larger within-dyad differences in figure-embedding performance impaired coordination, whereas higher dyad-level self-esteem facilitated coordination. The neural coupling index showed no reliable main effect after accounting for behavioral and trait factors, but moderation analyses indicated a conditional contribution: interbrain synchrony compensated when shared flexibility was low, with diminishing benefit as synergy increased. Together, these findings support a hierarchical neurobehavioral architecture in which shared flexibility provides the primary foundation of coordination, dispositional structure shapes the conditions for synergy, and interbrain synchrony contributes in a context-dependent manner.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19299,"journal":{"name":"NeuroImage","volume":"328 ","pages":"Article 121773"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146119533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroImagePub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121776
Fei Yin, Wei Meng, Chenchen Ma, Yupeng Yang
{"title":"Baicalin reactivates ocular dominance plasticity to restore vision from amblyopia in adult mice","authors":"Fei Yin, Wei Meng, Chenchen Ma, Yupeng Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121776","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121776","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amblyopia is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by reduced visual acuity due to abnormal visual experience during critical periods. In adulthood, the diminished plasticity of the primary visual cortex (V1) presents a major barrier to effective treatment. Here, we investigate whether baicalin, a flavonoid derived from Scutellaria baicalensis, can restore ocular dominance plasticity (ODP) and promote functional recovery in a mouse model of adult amblyopia. Using intrinsic signal optical imaging and electrophysiological recording, we demonstrate that 10 mg/kg baicalin treatment reactivates ODP in adult mice, whereas 5mg/kg or Scutellaria water extract fails to do so. Furthermore, baicalin combined with reverse suturing in adult amblyopic mice restored both ocular dominance distribution and visual acuity to normal levels. Baicalin treatment reduced the expression of two major GABA synthetic enzymes (glutamate decarboxylase, GAD65/67) and perineuronal nets in V1, while administration of the GABA<sub>A</sub> receptor agonist muscimol during the baicalin treatment blocked the rescued ODP. These findings suggested that a reduction in cortical inhibition might underlie the restoration of visual plasticity in adults. Our results suggest that baicalin may serve as a potential therapy for adult amblyopia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19299,"journal":{"name":"NeuroImage","volume":"328 ","pages":"Article 121776"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146132739","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroImagePub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121785
Stephanie Graceffo, David F. Little, Emine Merve Kaya, Mounya Elhilali
{"title":"Perception of dynamic multi-speaker auditory scenes under different modes of attention","authors":"Stephanie Graceffo, David F. Little, Emine Merve Kaya, Mounya Elhilali","doi":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121785","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121785","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Attention is not monolithic; rather, it operates in multiple forms to facilitate efficient cognitive processing. In the auditory domain, attention enables the prioritization of relevant sounds in an auditory scene and can be either attracted by elements in the scene in a bottom-up fashion or directed towards features, objects, or the entire scene in a top-down fashion. How these modes of attention interact and whether their neural underpinnings are distinct remains unclear. In this work, we investigate the perceptual and neural correlates of different attentional modes in a controlled “cocktail party” paradigm, where listeners listen to the <em>same</em> stimuli and attend to either a spatial location (operationalized here as a feature-based auditory attribute), a speaker (object-based), or the entire scene (global or free-listening) while detecting deviations in pitch of a voice in the scene. Our findings indicate that object-based attention is more perceptually effective than feature-based or global attention. Furthermore, object-based and spatial-based attention engage distinct neural mechanisms and are differentially modulated by bottom-up salience. Notably, while bottom-up salience aids in the initial segregation of auditory objects, it plays a reduced role in object tracking once attention has been voluntarily allocated. In addition, decoding the stimulus envelope from the EEG data revealed a source-sampling scheme in the global attention mode that is not present in the object or spatial modes. Overall, the study shows that the perception of the same acoustic scene differs according to the listening task, guided by an interaction between top-down and bottom-up processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19299,"journal":{"name":"NeuroImage","volume":"328 ","pages":"Article 121785"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146132763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
NeuroImagePub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121774
Samantha Sartin , Federica Danaj , Fabio Del Giudice , Juan Chen , Dietrich Samuel Schwarzkopf , Irene Sperandio , Simona Monaco
{"title":"Decoding haptic and imagined stimulus size in the human cortex","authors":"Samantha Sartin , Federica Danaj , Fabio Del Giudice , Juan Chen , Dietrich Samuel Schwarzkopf , Irene Sperandio , Simona Monaco","doi":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121774","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121774","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human neuroimaging studies indicate that the early visual cortex (EVC), including the primary visual cortex (V1), is involved in haptic exploration of objects, even when visual information is not available. However, it remains unknown whether the features of haptically explored objects, like size, are represented in the EVC. Here, we investigated whether we can use the activity patterns in the EVC and other task-relevant brain regions to decode stimulus size during haptic exploration, and whether this effect is due to visual imagery. Twenty-five right-handed participants haptically explored or imagined the size of three rings (small, medium, large) in a slow-event-related fMRI study. Participants were blindfolded during the training and fMRI sessions. Using multivariate pattern analysis, we found that V1 and the occipital pole (OP) showed accurate decoding of stimulus size during haptic exploration, but not imagery trials. This suggests that the activity patterns observed in the haptic condition cannot be explained by visual imagery. Frontal and parietal regions, as well as the multisensory lateral occipital tactile-visual area (LOtv), showed accurate size decoding during both haptic and imagery conditions, suggesting a flexible representation of stimulus size that adapts to task demands. In addition, stimulus size could be decoded across tasks in the anterior and posterior intraparietal sulcus (aIPS, pIPS), and dorsal premotor cortex (dPM). Psychophysiological interaction analysis indicated that V1 and OP showed stronger functional connectivity with ventral and dorsal visual stream areas during the haptic as compared to the imagery task. Overall, stimulus size information is similarly represented in frontal and parietal cortices across haptic exploration and imagery, but not in early visual areas, demonstrating that only regions specialized for haptic exploration and imagery support generalized size representations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19299,"journal":{"name":"NeuroImage","volume":"328 ","pages":"Article 121774"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146132748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Neural representations of perceived engagement during action observation","authors":"Edoardo Arcuri , Leonardo Cerliani , Martina Ardizzi , Nunzio Langiulli , Francesca Ferroni , Christian Keysers , Valeria Gazzola , Vittorio Gallese","doi":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121780","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.neuroimage.2026.121780","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Interpersonal motor interactions are central to social life, yet it remains unclear how social cues relevant to detecting engagement are encoded in the brain. Recent evidence suggests that regions traditionally associated with mentalizing, such as the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) and temporo-parietal junction (TPJ), co-activate with nodes of the Action Observation Network (AON) during motor engagement with others, pointing to a synergistic role in the processing of action features during interaction. Using fMRI and Representational Similarity Analysis (RSA), we examined brain responses to reach-to-grasp actions varying in Goal (passing vs. placing), Perspective (2nd vs. 3rd person), and Gaze visibility, creating a gradient of perceived engagement. Our results show TPJ-AON convergent representational geometry during action observation, with temporo-parietal and premotor regions, but not dmPFC, showing correlated dynamics of pattern modulation. Model-based analyses showed a graded organisation within the right temporo-parietal cortex, with perspective encoded in the rTPJ, goal-related information in superior temporal regions, and perceived engagement uniquely encoded in the rIPL. Moreover, the rTPJ and left premotor cortex shared representational geometry for action direction, linking mentalizing and sensorimotor systems in the encoding of first-person-relevant cues. In contrast, the dmPFC showed an isolated representational geometry and did not encode action features or perceived engagement, consistent with its recruitment during richer interactive contexts. Together, these findings support a distributed, sensorimotor account of engagement encoding and reveal new functional links among key social cognition areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19299,"journal":{"name":"NeuroImage","volume":"328 ","pages":"Article 121780"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146132718","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}