From action imitation to predictive processing: The dynamic neural mechanism and practical application prospect of motor contagion

Abstract: Motor contagion, as a core mechanism for the dynamic coupling of the perception and action systems in human social interaction, has long been subject to controversy regarding its neural mechanisms and evolutionary significance. In social communication, the unconscious influence on one’s own actions triggered by observing others’ actions is termed motor contagion. It forms the foundation of human imitation and social learning, playing a critical role in social cognition, group coordination, and other domains. Research suggests that the essence of motor contagion lies in the dynamic interaction among the perceptual system, motor system, and social cognitive networks. While the mirror neuron system serves as a foundational role in the shared representation of action observation and execution, its function must be understood within the broader framework of predictive error regulation and competition between conscious pathways. The predictive processing theory calibrates internal action representations through forward models, revealing how predictive errors modulate the directional plasticity of motor contagion and explaining the behavioral diversity from imitation to deviation. Social contexts regulate the intensity of contagion via the prefrontal cortex, indicating that motor contagion possesses adaptive functions endowed by evolution. Future research should integrate interdisciplinary approaches from psychology, neuroscience, and computational modeling to deepen the analysis of dynamic interaction mechanisms and explore practical implementations in complex social scenarios.