Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation
Published on: December 31, 2013
Visual feedback of a hand prepared to move modulates cortical motor activity
Pascale Touzalin-Chretien1, Solange Ehrler, André Dufour
1UMR UDS CNRS, Strasbourg, France. pascale.touzalin@linc.u-strasbg.fr <pascale.touzalin@linc.u-strasbg.fr>
Abstract:
Previous study has shown that observation of a movement leads to the activation of some of the same cortical motor regions that are stimulated when the movement is performed. This study aimed to determine whether visualization of a static hand would lead to the activation of the vision/action related system or if viewing a movement was essential to modulate the activity of cerebral motor areas. In our experimental procedure, motor cortical activity was measured using the lateralized readiness potential, a cortical motor potential generated partially in the primary motor cortex, when participants had to press a button with the right or left hand, which was either seen or not. We found that the lateralized readiness potential amplitude differed significantly between the two conditions, suggesting that visual feedback from the image of the hand is sufficient to modulate neural activity in the primary motor cortex.
Related Concept Videos
Somatosensation
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Muscles of the Forearm that Move the Hand and Fingers
Anterior Compartment
The anterior compartment muscles originate from the humerus. They primarily function as flexors and are also known as flexor muscles. They typically insert on the carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges. The superficial layer includes the flexor carpi radialis,...
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

