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Roland Philipp

University College London, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience, Post-Doc

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I started my scientific career at the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany, where I received my MSc and PhD degree in Klaus-Peter Hoffmann's Lab. In short I can summarise the results of my PhD thesis as follows: We investigated if and how the Superior Colliculus (SC) is involved in the generation and control of visually guided arm movements. Using three different approaches we could show that I) electrical microstimulation elicits arm movements in a naïve monkey (Macaca mulatta), II) electrical microstimulation influences an ongoing movement plan, and III) that sudden target perturbations are reflected in the discharge of collicular reach neurons.

During my Master's thesis we recorded from the extra striate visual cortex from anaesthetised pigmented and albino ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) and were able to localise a circumscribed cortical area (PSS) which contains direction selective neurons and shares specific characteristics with the primate medial superior temporal area (MST).

Currently I am working as a Research Fellow on the Mirror Neuron Project which is funded by the "Wellcome Trust Project Grant (Kraskov and Lemon)". The main focus of my work is presently to analyse and interpret the oculomotor pattern of a monkey while participating in an interactive mirror task requiring action execution and action observation.
Supervisors: Kazuhiko Seki, Roger Lemon, and Klaus-Peter Hoffmann

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Université de Montréal

Emma Kirkpatrick

University of Southampton

Mathieu Bourguignon

University of Parma

Vittorio Gallese

Università degli Studi di Parma (Italy)

Maria Alessandra Umiltà

Stephan Salenius

University of Helsinki

Fausto Baldissera

Etienne OLIVIER

UCLouvain (University of Louvain)

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Papers by Roland Philipp

Corticospinal mirror neurons

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Jun 5, 2014

This article cites 36 articles, 18 of which can be accessed free This article is free to access S... more This article cites 36 articles, 18 of which can be accessed free This article is free to access Subject collections (467 articles) neuroscience (526 articles) behaviour Articles on similar topics can be found in the following collections Email alerting service here right-hand corner of the article or click Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article-sign up in the box at the top http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/subscriptions

Investigations on the Control of Eye-Hand Coordination in the Superior Colliculus of the Macaque Monkey (Macaca mulatta)

Abstract In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde untersucht ob und wie der Colliculus Superior (CS) an d... more

Vigneswaran et al.-2013-supp

Modulation of the Intracortical LFP during Action Execution and Observation

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, Jan 3, 2015

The activity of mirror neurons in macaque ventral premotor cortex (PMv) and primary motor cortex ... more The activity of mirror neurons in macaque ventral premotor cortex (PMv) and primary motor cortex (M1) is modulated by the observation of another's movements. This modulation could underpin well documented changes in EEG/MEG activity indicating the existence of a mirror neuron system in humans. Because the local field potential (LFP) represents an important link between macaque single neuron and human noninvasive studies, we focused on mirror properties of intracortical LFPs recorded in the PMv and M1 hand regions in two macaques while they reached, grasped and held different objects, or observed the same actions performed by an experimenter. Upper limb EMGs were recorded to control for covert muscle activity during observation.The movement-related potential (MRP), investigated as intracortical low-frequency LFP activity (<9 Hz), was modulated in both M1 and PMv, not only during action execution but also during action observation. Moreover, the temporal LFP modulations during ...

Corticospinal mirror neurons

Here, we report the properties of neurons with mirror-like characteristics that were identified a... more Here, we report the properties of neurons with mirror-like characteristics that were identified as pyramidal tract neurons (PTNs) and recorded in the ventral premotor cortex (area F5) and primary motor cortex (M1) of three macaque monkeys. We analysed the neurons’ discharge while the monkeys performed active grasp of either food or an object, and also while they observed an experimenter carrying out a similar range of grasps. A considerable proportion of tested PTNs showed clear mirror-like properties (52% F5 and 58% M1). Some PTNs exhibited ‘classical’ mirror neuron properties, increasing activity for both execution and observation, while others decreased their discharge during observation (‘suppression mirror-neurons’). These experiments not only demonstrate the existence of PTNs as mirror neurons in M1, but also reveal some interesting differences between M1 and F5 mirror PTNs. Although observation-related changes in the discharge of PTNs must reach the spinal cord and will include some direct projections to motoneurons supplying grasping muscles, there was no EMG activity in these muscles during action observation. We suggest that the mirror neuron system is involved in the withholding of unwanted movement during action observation. Mirror neurons are differentially recruited in the behaviour that switches rapidly between making your own movements and observing those of others.

Arm movements induced by electrical microstimulation in the superior colliculus of the macaque monkey

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2014

Neuronal activity in the deep layers of the macaque (Macaca mulatta) superior colliculus (SC) and... more Neuronal activity in the deep layers of the macaque (Macaca mulatta) superior colliculus (SC) and the underlying reticular formation is correlated with the initiation and execution of arm movements . Although the correlation of this activity with EMGs of proximal arm muscles is as strong as in motor cortex , little is known about the influence of electrical microstimulation in the SC on the initiation and trajectories of arm movements. Our experiments on three macaque monkeys clearly show that arm movements can be elicited by electrical microstimulation in the deep layers of the lateral SC and underlying reticular formation. The most extensively trained monkey, M1, extended his arm toward the screen in front of him more or less stereotypically upon electrical SC stimulation. In two other monkeys, M2 and M3, a larger repertoire of arm movements were elicited, categorized into three movement types, and compared before (M3) and after (M2 and M3) training: twitch (56% vs 62%), lift (6% vs 5%), and extend (37% vs 32%), respectively. Therefore, arm movements induced by electrical stimulation in the monkey SC represent a further component of the functional repertoire of the SC using its impact on motoneurons in the spinal cord, probably via premotor neurons in the brainstem, as well as on structures involved in executing more complex movements such as target-directed reaching. Therefore, the macaque SC could be involved directly in the initiation, execution, and amendment of arm and hand movements.

M1 corticospinal mirror neurons and their role in movement suppression during action observation

Evidence is accumulating that neurons in primary motor cortex (M1) respond during action observat... more Evidence is accumulating that neurons in primary motor cortex (M1) respond during action observation , a property first shown for mirror neurons in monkey premotor cortex . We now show for the first time that the discharge of a major class of M1 output neuron, the pyramidal tract neuron (PTN), is modulated during observation of precision grip by a human experimenter. We recorded 132 PTNs in the hand area of two adult macaques, of which 65 (49%) showed mirror-like activity. Many (38 of 65) increased their discharge during observation (facilitation-type mirror neuron), but a substantial number (27 of 65) exhibited reduced discharge or stopped firing (suppression-type). Simultaneous recordings from arm, hand, and digit muscles confirmed the complete absence of detectable muscle activity during observation. We compared the discharge of the same population of neurons during active grasp by the monkeys. We found that facilitation neurons were only half as active for action observation as for action execution, and that suppression neurons reversed their activity pattern and were actually facilitated during execution. Thus, although many M1 output neurons are active during action observation, M1 direct input to spinal circuitry is either reduced or abolished and may not be sufficient to produce overt muscle activity.

Investigations on the Control of Eye-hand Coordination in the Superior Colliculus of the Macaque Monkey (Macaca Mulatta)

Abstract In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde untersucht ob und wie der Colliculus Superior (CS) an d... more

Neuronal activity in the superior colliculus related to saccade initiation during coordinated gaze–reach movements

European Journal of …, Jan 1, 2011

Influence of task predictability on the activity of neurons in the rostral superior colliculus during double-step saccades

Journal of …, Jan 1, 2009

Role of the rostral superior colliculus in gaze anchoring during reach movements

Journal of …, Jan 1, 2010

A motion-sensitive area in ferret extrastriate visual cortex: an analysis in pigmented and albino animals

by Roland Philipp and Claudia Distler

Cerebral Cortex, Jan 1, 2006

In search of the neuronal substrate for motion analysis in the ferret (Mustela putorius furo), we... more In search of the neuronal substrate for motion analysis in the ferret (Mustela putorius furo), we extracellularly recorded from extrastriate visual cortex in five pigmented and two albino ferrets under general anaesthesia and paralysis. Visual stimulation consisted of large area random dot patterns moving either on a circular path in the frontoparallel plane or expanding and contracting radially. Strongly direction-selective neurons were recorded in a circumscribed area in and just posterior to the suprasylvian sulcus, thus named by us the posterior suprasylvian area (area PSS). Altogether, we recorded 210 (90%) and 95 (72%) PSS neurons in pigmented and albino ferrets, respectively, that were direction selective. In these neurons responses during random dot pattern stimulation in the preferred direction were at least twice as strong than stimulation in the non-preferred direction. Response strength in preferred direction and tuning sharpness of PSS neurons in albinos were significantly reduced when compared to pigmented animals (median values: 34.1 versus 14.8 spikes/s and 142 versus 165°for pigmented and albino ferrets, respectively). Inter-spike-intervals during visual stimulation were significantly shorter in pigmented (median 9ms) than in albino PSS neurons (median 14ms). Our data indicate that area PSS may play a crucial role in motion perception in the ferret.

Corticospinal mirror neurons

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Jun 5, 2014

This article cites 36 articles, 18 of which can be accessed free This article is free to access S... more This article cites 36 articles, 18 of which can be accessed free This article is free to access Subject collections (467 articles) neuroscience (526 articles) behaviour Articles on similar topics can be found in the following collections Email alerting service here right-hand corner of the article or click Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article-sign up in the box at the top http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/subscriptions

Investigations on the Control of Eye-Hand Coordination in the Superior Colliculus of the Macaque Monkey (Macaca mulatta)

Abstract In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde untersucht ob und wie der Colliculus Superior (CS) an d... more

Vigneswaran et al.-2013-supp

Modulation of the Intracortical LFP during Action Execution and Observation

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, Jan 3, 2015

The activity of mirror neurons in macaque ventral premotor cortex (PMv) and primary motor cortex ... more The activity of mirror neurons in macaque ventral premotor cortex (PMv) and primary motor cortex (M1) is modulated by the observation of another's movements. This modulation could underpin well documented changes in EEG/MEG activity indicating the existence of a mirror neuron system in humans. Because the local field potential (LFP) represents an important link between macaque single neuron and human noninvasive studies, we focused on mirror properties of intracortical LFPs recorded in the PMv and M1 hand regions in two macaques while they reached, grasped and held different objects, or observed the same actions performed by an experimenter. Upper limb EMGs were recorded to control for covert muscle activity during observation.The movement-related potential (MRP), investigated as intracortical low-frequency LFP activity (<9 Hz), was modulated in both M1 and PMv, not only during action execution but also during action observation. Moreover, the temporal LFP modulations during ...

Corticospinal mirror neurons

Here, we report the properties of neurons with mirror-like characteristics that were identified a... more Here, we report the properties of neurons with mirror-like characteristics that were identified as pyramidal tract neurons (PTNs) and recorded in the ventral premotor cortex (area F5) and primary motor cortex (M1) of three macaque monkeys. We analysed the neurons’ discharge while the monkeys performed active grasp of either food or an object, and also while they observed an experimenter carrying out a similar range of grasps. A considerable proportion of tested PTNs showed clear mirror-like properties (52% F5 and 58% M1). Some PTNs exhibited ‘classical’ mirror neuron properties, increasing activity for both execution and observation, while others decreased their discharge during observation (‘suppression mirror-neurons’). These experiments not only demonstrate the existence of PTNs as mirror neurons in M1, but also reveal some interesting differences between M1 and F5 mirror PTNs. Although observation-related changes in the discharge of PTNs must reach the spinal cord and will include some direct projections to motoneurons supplying grasping muscles, there was no EMG activity in these muscles during action observation. We suggest that the mirror neuron system is involved in the withholding of unwanted movement during action observation. Mirror neurons are differentially recruited in the behaviour that switches rapidly between making your own movements and observing those of others.

Arm movements induced by electrical microstimulation in the superior colliculus of the macaque monkey

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2014

Neuronal activity in the deep layers of the macaque (Macaca mulatta) superior colliculus (SC) and... more Neuronal activity in the deep layers of the macaque (Macaca mulatta) superior colliculus (SC) and the underlying reticular formation is correlated with the initiation and execution of arm movements . Although the correlation of this activity with EMGs of proximal arm muscles is as strong as in motor cortex , little is known about the influence of electrical microstimulation in the SC on the initiation and trajectories of arm movements. Our experiments on three macaque monkeys clearly show that arm movements can be elicited by electrical microstimulation in the deep layers of the lateral SC and underlying reticular formation. The most extensively trained monkey, M1, extended his arm toward the screen in front of him more or less stereotypically upon electrical SC stimulation. In two other monkeys, M2 and M3, a larger repertoire of arm movements were elicited, categorized into three movement types, and compared before (M3) and after (M2 and M3) training: twitch (56% vs 62%), lift (6% vs 5%), and extend (37% vs 32%), respectively. Therefore, arm movements induced by electrical stimulation in the monkey SC represent a further component of the functional repertoire of the SC using its impact on motoneurons in the spinal cord, probably via premotor neurons in the brainstem, as well as on structures involved in executing more complex movements such as target-directed reaching. Therefore, the macaque SC could be involved directly in the initiation, execution, and amendment of arm and hand movements.

M1 corticospinal mirror neurons and their role in movement suppression during action observation

Evidence is accumulating that neurons in primary motor cortex (M1) respond during action observat... more Evidence is accumulating that neurons in primary motor cortex (M1) respond during action observation , a property first shown for mirror neurons in monkey premotor cortex . We now show for the first time that the discharge of a major class of M1 output neuron, the pyramidal tract neuron (PTN), is modulated during observation of precision grip by a human experimenter. We recorded 132 PTNs in the hand area of two adult macaques, of which 65 (49%) showed mirror-like activity. Many (38 of 65) increased their discharge during observation (facilitation-type mirror neuron), but a substantial number (27 of 65) exhibited reduced discharge or stopped firing (suppression-type). Simultaneous recordings from arm, hand, and digit muscles confirmed the complete absence of detectable muscle activity during observation. We compared the discharge of the same population of neurons during active grasp by the monkeys. We found that facilitation neurons were only half as active for action observation as for action execution, and that suppression neurons reversed their activity pattern and were actually facilitated during execution. Thus, although many M1 output neurons are active during action observation, M1 direct input to spinal circuitry is either reduced or abolished and may not be sufficient to produce overt muscle activity.

Investigations on the Control of Eye-hand Coordination in the Superior Colliculus of the Macaque Monkey (Macaca Mulatta)

Abstract In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde untersucht ob und wie der Colliculus Superior (CS) an d... more

Neuronal activity in the superior colliculus related to saccade initiation during coordinated gaze–reach movements

European Journal of …, Jan 1, 2011

Influence of task predictability on the activity of neurons in the rostral superior colliculus during double-step saccades

Journal of …, Jan 1, 2009

Role of the rostral superior colliculus in gaze anchoring during reach movements

Journal of …, Jan 1, 2010

A motion-sensitive area in ferret extrastriate visual cortex: an analysis in pigmented and albino animals

by Roland Philipp and Claudia Distler

Cerebral Cortex, Jan 1, 2006

In search of the neuronal substrate for motion analysis in the ferret (Mustela putorius furo), we... more In search of the neuronal substrate for motion analysis in the ferret (Mustela putorius furo), we extracellularly recorded from extrastriate visual cortex in five pigmented and two albino ferrets under general anaesthesia and paralysis. Visual stimulation consisted of large area random dot patterns moving either on a circular path in the frontoparallel plane or expanding and contracting radially. Strongly direction-selective neurons were recorded in a circumscribed area in and just posterior to the suprasylvian sulcus, thus named by us the posterior suprasylvian area (area PSS). Altogether, we recorded 210 (90%) and 95 (72%) PSS neurons in pigmented and albino ferrets, respectively, that were direction selective. In these neurons responses during random dot pattern stimulation in the preferred direction were at least twice as strong than stimulation in the non-preferred direction. Response strength in preferred direction and tuning sharpness of PSS neurons in albinos were significantly reduced when compared to pigmented animals (median values: 34.1 versus 14.8 spikes/s and 142 versus 165°for pigmented and albino ferrets, respectively). Inter-spike-intervals during visual stimulation were significantly shorter in pigmented (median 9ms) than in albino PSS neurons (median 14ms). Our data indicate that area PSS may play a crucial role in motion perception in the ferret.