The anterior midcingulate cortex might be a neuronal substrate for the ideomotor mechanism.

The way the brain controls voluntary movements for normal and pathological subject remains puzzling. In this selective review, we provide unreported harmonies between the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) activities and the ideomotor mechanism postulating that voluntary movements are controlled by the anticipation of the expected perceptual consequences of an action, critically involving bidirectional interplay of a given motor activity and corresponding sensory feedback. Among other evidence, we found that the required asymmetry in the bidirectional interplay between a given motor command and its expected sensory effect could rely on the specific activity of aMCC neurons when observing errors and successes. We confirm this hypothesis by presenting a pathological perspective, studying obsessive-compulsive and other related disorders in which hyperactivated and uniform aMCC activities should lead to a circular-reflex process that results in persistent ideas and repeated actions. By evaluating normal and pathological data, we propose considering the aMCC at a central position within the cerebral network involved in the ideomotor mechanism.

[Cannabis and myocardial infarction without angiographic stenosis in young patient: guilty or not guilty? A case report]. / Cannabis et infarctus du myocarde du sujet jeune : association fortuite ? À propos d'une observation.

Cannabis is the most consumed drug in France, particularly in young adults. Few reports have suggested a causal role of cannabis in the development of cardiovascular events. We describe one case of 26-year-old man, cannabis and tobacco smoker, admitted with recurrent ischemic stroke cause by post-myocardial infarction left ventricular thrombus. Coronary arteries were angiographicaly normal and etiological tests were negative. We suggest the possible relationship between marijuana use with coronary heart disease.

Observational learning: effects of bandwidth knowledge of results.

The authors investigated whether bandwidth knowledge of results (KR) during observation of a model's performance enhances motor skill learning. Following a pretest, 2 groups of participants (N = 28) observed a model practicing a timing task. The bandwidth group received KR about the model's performance only when his performance fell outside the criteria for a correct response. The yoked group received KR on the same trials as the bandwidth group did but were not told that the KR was only about incorrect performances. In that way, the authors avoided a confound between bandwidth and relative frequency effects on performance and learning. Following the observation phase, both groups of participants performed 10-min and 24-hr retention tests. Bandwidth KR enabled that group to reduce its performance variability and, to a lesser extent, to enhance its performance accuracy. The authors discuss the results with respect to the powerful effect of qualitative KR through observation.