# Observation of Performance

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · 2020 · $486,021

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Mirror neurons constitute a distinct class of neurons in that their firing rates are modulated both during
performance and during observation. We will investigate three aspects of mirror neuron physiology. First,
given that mirror neurons are thought to mediate understanding of another individual’s actions, in Aim 1 we
ask if mirror neuron activity during observation differs depending on whether or not the individual performing
the movement is of the same species. We hypothesize H1A – that mirror neuron activity is modulated more
when the observing subject watches an individual from the same species than when the performer is from a
different species. Furthermore, we hypothesize H1B – that communication between a conspecific performer
and observer enhances observation-related activity. Second, although most studies of mirror neurons have
focused on modulation during movement per se, our preliminary studies suggest that mirror neuron
populations represent entire sequences of multiple behavioral epochs, including epochs during which no
movement occurs. In Aim 2 we ask whether mirror neuron populations represent behavioral epochs other
than the movement per se. We hypothesize: H2A – that mirror neurons are modulated during separate
instruction and/or preparatory periods; H2B – that mirror neuron populations represent entire sequences of
multiple behavioral epochs whether the subject is performing or observing; and H2C – that the representation
of behavioral epoch sequences is similar during performance and observation in mirror neuron populations
from the ventral or dorsal premotor cortex, but different in those from the primary motor cortex. Third, we
introduce the novel notion that i) condition-dependent modulation of mirror neuron activity related to the
location to which the arm must reach and to the object the hand must grasp is dissociable experimentally from
ii) condition-independent modulation that represents the sequence of behavioral epochs. In Aim 3 we ask
whether inactivation of the parietal reach region (PRR) and/or the anterior intraparietal area (AIP) reduces or
eliminates condition-dependent information in the premotor and motor cortex, while leaving condition-
independent modulation relatively unchanged. We hypothesize: H3A – that during observation, inactivation of
PRR and/or AIP will reduce or eliminate the location- and/or object-related modulation, respectively, of mirror
neuron populations, H3B – while leaving the condition-independent modulation relatively unchanged.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9934293
- **Project number:** 5R01NS102343-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** MARC H SCHIEBER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $486,021
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-15 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9934293

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9934293, Observation of Performance (5R01NS102343-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9934293. Licensed CC0.

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