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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

Published on: December 31, 2013

Neurons in primary motor cortex engaged during action observation.

Juliana Dushanova¹, John Donoghue

¹Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, RI 02906, USA.

The European Journal of Neuroscience

|January 16, 2010

Summary

Neurons in the primary motor cortex (M1) activate when observing actions, not just performing them. These "view" neurons help understand, learn, or mentally rehearse observed motor acts.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Motor Control
Cognitive Neuroscience

Background:

Higher cortical areas show neural activity during action observation.
Mirror neurons and mental rehearsal are known mechanisms.
Primary motor cortex (M1) traditionally linked to movement execution.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate M1 neuron activity during action observation.
Determine if M1 neurons involved in action viewing.
Characterize the properties of these 'view' neurons.

Main Methods:

Multielectrode recordings in monkeys.
Monkeys performed and observed a step-tracking task.
Analysis of neural activity in M1 during 'do' and 'view' conditions.

Main Results:

Approximately 50% of 'do' neurons in M1 also activated during action observation ('view' neurons).
'View' neurons were intermingled with 'do' neurons.
Population activity during viewing predicted movement direction and trajectory, though less accurately than during performance.

Conclusions:

M1 'view' neurons reflect learned movements when observed.
These neurons are part of broader cortical networks for learned behaviors.
Viewing actions may elicit M1 activity replay for understanding, learning, or mental rehearsal.