Rethinking the Action Observation and Execution Network After Early Brain Damage: A Developmental Framework for Cerebral Palsy

Background/Objectives: The action observation and execution network (AOEN) is thought to support action perception–execution coupling and it may contribute to motor learning during development. In cerebral palsy (CP), early brain lesions occur while sensorimotor and cognitive networks are still developing, potentially reshaping AOEN organization and the mechanisms through which children learn from observed actions. This narrative review examines current evidence on AOEN involvement during action observation and execution in CP and proposes a neuroconstructivist framework for personalized observation-based rehabilitation.