The　ability　to　comprehend　the　intention　conveyed　through　human　body　movements　is　crucial　for　effective　interpersonal　interactions.　If　people　can’t　understand　the　intention　behind　other　individuals’　isolated　or　interactive　actions,　their　actions　will　become　meaningless.　Psychologists　have　investigated　the　cognitive　processes　and　neural　representations　involved　in　understanding　action　intention,　yet　a　cohesive　theoretical　explanation　remains　elusive.　Hence,　we　mainly　review　existing　literature　related　to　neural　correlates　of　action　intention,　and　primarily　propose　a　putative　Three-stage　Dynamic　Brain-cognitive　Model　of　understanding　action　intention,　which　involves　body　perception,　action　identification　and　intention　understanding.　Specifically,　at　the　first　stage,　body　parts/shapes　are　processed　by　those　brain　regions　such　as　extrastriate　and　fusiform　body　areas;　During　the　second　stage,　differentiating　observed　actions　relies　on　configuring　relationships　between　body　parts,　facilitated　by　the　activation　of　the　Mirror　Neuron　System;　The　last　stage　involves　identifying　various　intention　categories,　utilizing　the　Mentalizing　System　for　recruitment,　and　different　activation　patterns　concerning　the　nature　of　the　intentions　participants　dealing　with.　Finally,　we　delves　into　the　clinical　practice,　like　intervention　training　based　on　a　theoretical　model　for　individuals　with　autism　spectrum　disorders　who　encounter　difficulties　in　interpersonal　communication.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer　Science+Business　Media,　LLC,　part　of　Springer　Nature　2024.