Mark Schram Christensen

Mark Schram Christensen

Associate Professor

Member of:

    ORCID: 0000-0001-5927-8566

    The goal of my research is to understand how human cognitive processes are formed and developed by the interaction with the surroundings and objects through movements. I use modelling of the neural mechanisms underlying sensorimotor interactions involved in cognitive and perceptual tasks, skill acquisition and movement control using data from behavioural, neuroimaging and electrophysiological recordings accompanied by subjective reports of phenomenological experiences. I am particularly interested in understanding how the perceptual experience of movements and focus of attention play a role for the ability to learn new skills. In order to achieve this, I study human’s interaction with the environment in combination with neuroscientific (EEG, EMG), biomechanical (3D motion capture) and stimulation (TMS) methods.

    I have recently started the project The Functional Role of Perception of Movements with funding from The Independent Research Fund Denmark. It is an interdisciplinary collaboration with assoc. prof. Thor Grünbaum (Section of Philosophy, UCPH), where we investigate the functional role of movement perception in humans for skill acquisition and learning. We combine subjective reports of phenomenological experiences, behavioural and electrophysiological neuroscience methods in order to study the sensory signals and perceptual experiences that contribute to skill learning. I investigate the use of VR to improve movement range in people with cerebral palsy and acquisition of new skills in healthy volunteers. Here we use modelling of behavior in order to make adaptive adjustments to the effects of movement in virtual environments. 

    I work at Department of Psychology, and do coordination and supervision of neurophysiology research within the domain of cognitive control of movements.

    • Consciousness and movements
    • Movement awareness
    • Sensory motor illusions
    • Agency
    • Body awareness and ownership 

    In the research group we use the following methods

    • Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
    • Electroencephalography (EEG)
    • Eye-tracking
    • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), in collaboration with DRCMR
    • Behavioural tests
    • Virtual Reality

    Fields of interest

    • Motor control
    • Neural control of movements and actions
    • Sensorimotor integration
    • Theories of neuroscience
    • Consciousness
    • Agency
    • Intentionality and volitional control of movements

    Teaching

    • Cognitive Psychology, BSc course in Psychology
    • Supervision in BSc, MSc projects in Cognitive Control of Movements and actions 

    Selected publications

    1. Published

      Moving without sensory feedback: online TMS over the dorsal premotor cortex impairs motor performance during ischemic nerve block

      Bruno, V., Castellani, N., Garbarini, F. & Christensen, Mark Schram, 2023, In: Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991). 33, 5, p. 2315–2327 13 p.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    2. Published

      Sense of agency for movements

      Christensen, Mark Schram & Grünbaum, Thor, 2018, In: Consciousness and Cognition. 65, p. 27-47 21 p.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    3. Published

      Sense of moving: Moving closer to the movement

      Christensen, Mark Schram & Grünbaum, Thor, 2017, Sensation of Movement. Grünbaum, T. & Christensen, M. S. (eds.). Abingdon, UK: Routledge, p. 64-84 21 p. (Current Issues in Consciousness Research).

      Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review

    4. Published

      Sensation of Movement

      Grünbaum, Thor (ed.) & Christensen, Mark Schram (ed.), 2017, Abingdon, UK: Routledge. 154 p. (Current Issues in Consciousness Research).

      Research output: Book/Report › Anthology › Research › peer-review

    5. Published

      To be active through indoor-climbing: an exploratory feasibility study in a group of children with cerebral palsy and typically developing children

      Christensen, Mark Schram, Jensen, T., Voigt, C. B., Nielsen, Jens Bo & Lorentzen, Jakob, 15 Jun 2017, In: B M C Neurology. 17, 20 p., 112.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    6. Published

      Sense of agency is related to gamma band coupling in an inferior parietal-preSMA circuitry

      Ritterband-Rosenbaum, Anina, Nielsen, Jens Bo & Christensen, Mark Schram, 2014, In: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 8, 10 p., 510.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    7. Published

      Sense of agency as synecdoche: Multiple neurobiological mechanisms may underlie the phenomenon summarized as sense of agency

      Charalampaki, A., Karabanov, Anke Ninija, Ritterband-Rosenbaum, Anina, Bo Nielsen, J., Siebner, Hartwig Roman & Christensen, Mark Schram, 2022, In: Consciousness and Cognition. 101, 103307.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Review › peer-review

    8. Published

      Modulation of task-related cortical connectivity in the acute and subacute phase after stroke

      Larsen, Lisbeth Højkjær, Zibrandtsen, I. C., Wienecke, Troels, Kjær, T. W., Langberg, Henning, Nielsen, Jens Bo & Christensen, Mark Schram, 2018, In: European Journal of Neuroscience. 47, 8, p. 1024-1032 9 p.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    9. Published

      Seeing or moving in parallel: the premotor cortex does both during bimanual coordination, while the cerebellum monitors the behavioral instability of symmetric movements

      Christensen, Mark Schram, Ehrsson, H. H. & Nielsen, Jens Bo, 2013, In: Experimental Brain Research. 230, 1, p. 101-115 15 p.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    10. Published

      Measures of agency

      Grünbaum, Thor & Christensen, Mark Schram, 2020, In: Neuroscience of Consciousness. 6, 1, niaa019.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Review › peer-review

    11. Published

      Modulation of proprioceptive feedback during functional electrical stimulation: an fMRI study

      Christensen, Mark Schram & Grey, M. J., 2013, In: European Journal of Neuroscience. 37, 11, p. 1766-1778 13 p.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    12. Published

      10 Hz rTMS over right parietal cortex alters sense of agency during self-controlled movements

      Ritterband-Rosenbaum, Anina, Karabanov, Anke Ninija, Christensen, Mark Schram & Nielsen, Jens Bo, 2014, In: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 8, 7 p., 471.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    13. Published

      Body schema, illusions of movement and body perception

      Christensen, Mark Schram, 2012, Routledge Handbook of Motor Control and Motor Learning. Gollhofer, A., Taube, W. & Nielsen, J. B. (eds.). London: Routledge, p. 283-303 21 p.

      Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review

    14. Published

      Action-blindsight in healthy subjects after transcranial magnetic stimulation

      Christensen, Mark Schram, Kristiansen, L., Rowe, J. B. & Nielsen, Jens Bo, 2008, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America. 105, 4, p. 1353-1357 5 p.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    15. Published

      Illusory sensation of movement induced by repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

      Christensen, Mark Schram, Lundbye-Jensen, Jesper, Grey, M. J., Vejlby, A. D., Belhage, B., Nielsen, Jens Bo, Christensen, M. S., Jensen, J. L., Grey, M. J., Vejlby, A. D., Belhage, B. & Holm-Nielsen, J. B., 2010, In: P L o S One. 5, 10, p. e13301

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    16. Published

      Watching your foot move - an fMRI study of visuomotor interactions during foot movement

      Christensen, Mark Schram, Lundbye-Jensen, Jesper, Petersen, Nicolas Caesar, Geertsen, S. S., Paulson, Olaf B. & Nielsen, Jens Bo, 2007, In: Cerebral Cortex. 17, 8, p. 1906-1917 12 p.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    17. Published

      Premotor cortex modulates somatosensory cortex during voluntary movements without proprioceptive feedback

      Christensen, Mark Schram, Lundbye-Jensen, Jesper, Geertsen, S. S., Petersen, T. H., Paulson, Olaf B. & Nielsen, Jens Bo, 1 Apr 2007, In: Nature Neuroscience. 10, 4, p. 417-9 3 p.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    18. Published

      Twenty weeks of computer-training improves sense of agency in children with spastic cerebral palsy

      Ritterband-Rosenbaum, Anina, Christensen, Mark Schram & Nielsen, Jens Bo, 2012, In: Research in Developmental Disabilities. 33, 4, p. 1227-1234 8 p.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    19. Published

      Altered sense of agency in children with spastic cerebral palsy

      Ritterband-Rosenbaum, Anina, Christensen, Mark Schram, Kliim-Due, M., Petersen, L. Z., Rasmussen, B. & Nielsen, Jens Bo, 2011, In: B M C Neurology. 11, 1, p. 150 (1-12) 12 p.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    20. Published

      An fMRI study of the neural correlates of graded visual perception

      Christensen, Mark Schram, Ramsøy, T., Lund, T. E., Madsen, K. H. & Rowe, J. B., 2006, In: NeuroImage. 31, 4, p. 1711-1725 15 p.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    21. Published

      Valence, form, and content of self-talk predict sport type and level of performance

      Nedergaard, J., Christensen, Mark Schram & Wallentin, M., 2021, In: Consciousness and Cognition. 89, 103102.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    22. Published

      Cortical signatures of precision grip force control in children, adolescents and adults

      Beck, M. M., Spedden, Meaghan Elizabeth, Dietz, M., Karabanov, Anke Ninija, Christensen, Mark Schram & Lundbye-Jensen, Jesper, 2021, In: eLife. 10, 22 p., e61018.

      Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

    ID: 8187