A meta-analysis of 139 functional MRI and PET studies identified a bilateral network for action observation and imitation in the human brain. The network includes frontal premotor, parietal, and temporo-occipital regions. The most consistently activated area was the rostral inferior parietal region, PFt, which may correspond to macaque area PF. Action observation and imitation networks differ in their involvement of Broca's area: observation consistently activates dorsal BA 45, while imitation activates caudal BA 44. The study also found that action observation involves the fusiform face area (FFA) and fusiform body area (FBA) more than imitation. The results suggest that action observation and imitation are supported by overlapping but distinct neural networks. The study highlights the importance of considering confounding factors such as effectors and instructions in the analysis of action-related brain activity. The findings contribute to the understanding of the neural basis of action observation and imitation in humans.A meta-analysis of 139 functional MRI and PET studies identified a bilateral network for action observation and imitation in the human brain. The network includes frontal premotor, parietal, and temporo-occipital regions. The most consistently activated area was the rostral inferior parietal region, PFt, which may correspond to macaque area PF. Action observation and imitation networks differ in their involvement of Broca's area: observation consistently activates dorsal BA 45, while imitation activates caudal BA 44. The study also found that action observation involves the fusiform face area (FFA) and fusiform body area (FBA) more than imitation. The results suggest that action observation and imitation are supported by overlapping but distinct neural networks. The study highlights the importance of considering confounding factors such as effectors and instructions in the analysis of action-related brain activity. The findings contribute to the understanding of the neural basis of action observation and imitation in humans.