Functional anatomy of the cortical motor areas in primates.
Motor learning.
Plasticity of the motor system.
I am broadly interested in the role of the motor areas for the control of voluntary movement.
The primate brain contains multiple motor areas connected to the spinal cord. I use functional imaging techniques combined with single neuron recording in trained animals to investigate what these areas contribute to motor control. For example, some areas are more active for the generation of movement based on visual cues whereas others are more active for internally-generated or learned movements. I am currently looking at the functional organization of the primary motor cortex and how it changes with the acquisition of a motor skill using optical imaging.
Representative Publications
Inactivation of the Dorsal Premotor Area Disrupts Internally Generated, But Not Visually Guided, Sequential Movements.
Ohbayashi M, Picard N, Strick PL
Journal of Neuroscience (2016)
Extended practice of a motor skill is associated with reduced metabolic activity in M1.
Picard N, Matsuzaka Y, Strick PL
Nature Neuroscience (2013)
Skill representation in the primary motor cortex after long-term practice.
Matsuzaka Y, Picard N, Strick PL
Journal of Neurophysiology (2007)
Activation of the supplementary motor area (SMA) during performance of visually guided movements.
Picard N, Strick PL
Cerebral Cortex (2003)
Imaging the premotor areas.
Picard N, Strick PL
Current Opinion in Neurobiology (2001)
Activation on the medial wall during remembered sequences of reaching movements in monkeys.
Picard N, Strick PL
Journal of Neurophysiology (1997)
Motor areas of the medial wall: a review of their location and functional activation.
Picard N, Strick PL
Cerebral Cortex (1996)