Spatial updating in human parietal cortex

Single neurons in monkey parietal cortex update visual information in conjunction with eye movements. This remapping of stimulus representations is thought to contribute to spatial constancy. We hypothesized that a similar process occurs in human parietal cortex and that we could visualize it with functional MRI. We scanned subjects during a task that involved remapping of visual signals across hemifields. We observed an initial response in the hemisphere contralateral to the visual stimulus, followed by a remapped response in the hemisphere ipsilateral to the stimulus. We ruled out the possibility that this remapped response resulted from either eye movements or visual stimuli alone. Our results demonstrate that updating of visual information occurs in human parietal cortex.     

Spatial and non-spatial functions of the parietal cortex

Although the parietal cortex is traditionally associated with spatial attention and sensorimotor integration, recent evidence also implicates it in higher order cognitive functions. We review relevant results from neuron recording studies showing that inferior parietal neurons integrate information regarding target location with a variety of non-spatial signals. Some of these signals are modulatory and alter a stimulus-evoked response according to the action, category, or reward associated with the stimulus. Other non-spatial inputs act independently, encoding the context or rules of a task even before the presentation of a specific target. Despite the ubiquity of non-spatial information in individual neurons, reversible inactivation of the parietal lobe affects only spatial orienting of attention and gaze, but not non-spatial aspects of performance. This suggests that non-spatial signals contribute to an underlying spatial computation, possibly allowing the brain to determine which targets are worthy of attention or action in a given task context.     

Single neurons in posterior parietal cortex of monkeys encode cognitive set

The primate posterior parietal cortex (PPC), part of the dorsal visual pathway, is best known for its role in encoding salient spatial information. Yet there are indications that neural activity in the PPC can also be modulated by nonspatial task-related information. In this study, we tested whether neurons in the PPC encode signals related to cognitive set, that is, the preparation to perform a particular task. Cognitive set has previously been associated with the frontal cortex but not the PPC. In this study, monkeys performed a cognitive set shifting paradigm in which they were cued in advance to apply one of two different task rules to the subsequent stimulus on every trial. Here we show that a subset of neurons in the PPC, concentrated in the lateral bank of the intraparietal sulcus and on the angular gyrus, responds selectively to cues for different task rules.     

fMRI adaptation reveals mirror neurons in human inferior parietal cortex

Mirror neurons, as originally described in the macaque, have two defining properties [1, 2]: They respond specifically to a particular action (e.g., bringing an object to the mouth), and they produce their action-specific responses independent of whether the monkey executes the action or passively observes a conspecific performing the same action. In humans, action observation and action execution engage a network of frontal, parietal, and temporal areas. However, it is unclear whether these responses reflect the activity of a single population that represents both observed and executed actions in a common neural code or the activity of distinct but overlapping populations of exclusively perceptual and motor neurons [3]. Here, we used fMRI adaptation to show that the right inferior parietal lobe (IPL) responds independently to specific actions regardless of whether they are observed or executed. Specifically, responses in the right IPL were attenuated when participants observed a recently executed action relative to one that had not previously been performed. This adaptation across action and perception demonstrates that the right IPL responds selectively to the motoric and perceptual representations of actions and is the first evidence for a neural response in humans that shows both defining properties of mirror neurons.     

Motor and cognitive functions of the ventral premotor cortex

Recent data show that the ventral premotor cortex in both humans and monkeys has motor and cognitive functions. The cognitive functions include space perception, action understanding and imitation. The data also show a clear functional homology between monkey area F5 and human area 44. Preliminary evidence suggests that the ventral part of the lateral premotor cortex in humans may correspond to monkey area F4. A tentative map of the human lateral premotor areas founded on the reviewed evidence is presented.     

Human parietal cortex in action

Experiments using functional neuroimaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation in humans have revealed regions of the parietal lobes that are specialized for particular visuomotor actions, such as reaching, grasping and eye movements. In addition, the human parietal cortex is recruited by processing and perception of action-related information, even when no overt action occurs. Such information can include object shape and orientation, knowledge about how tools are employed and the understanding of actions made by other individuals. We review the known subregions of the human posterior parietal cortex and the principles behind their organization.     

Craniotopic updating of visual space across saccades in the human posterior parietal cortex

The neural mechanisms underlying the craniotopic updating of visual space across saccadic eye movements are poorly understood. Previous single-unit recording studies in primates and clinical studies in brain-damaged patients have shown that the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) has a key role in this process. In the present study, we used single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to disrupt the processing within the PPC during a task that requires craniotopic updating: double saccades. In this task, two targets are presented in quick succession and the subject is required to make a saccade to each location as accurately as possible. We show here that TMS delivered to the PPC just prior to the second saccade effectively disrupts the craniotopic coding normally observed in this task. This causes subjects to revert to saccades more consistent with a representation of the targets based on their positions relative to one another. By contrast, stimulation at earlier times between the two saccades did not disrupt performance. These results suggest that extraretinal information generated during the first perisaccadic period is not put into functional use until just prior to the second saccade.     

Neural coding of behavioral relevance in parietal cortex

Flexible control of behavior requires the selective processing of task-relevant sensory information and the appropriate linkage of sensory input to action. A great deal of evidence suggests a central role for the parietal cortex in these functions. Recent results from neurophysiological studies in non-human primates and neuroimaging experiments in humans illuminate the importance of parietal cortex for attention, and suggest how parietal neurons might allow the dynamic representation of behaviorally relevant information.     

Posterior parietal cortex: Space--and beyond

How do we decide how to react to a stimulus or event? To do so requires recognition of the stimulus itself as well as an appreciation of the context within which that stimulus is encountered. In this issue of Neuron, Stoet and Snyder report that neurons in the parietal cortex of monkeys can carry contextual information related to the rules that are relevant for solving a visual discrimination task.     

Enological functions of parietal yeast mannoproteins

Parietal yeast mannoproteins play a very important role in the overall vinification process. Their production and release, both during winemaking and aging on lees, depends on the specific yeast strain and the nutritional conditions. The following enological functions of parietal yeast mannoproteins have been described: (a) adsorption of ochratoxin A; (b) combination with phenolic compounds; (c) increased growth of malolactic bacteria; (d) inhibition of tartrate salt crystallization; (e) interaction with flor wines; (f) prevention of haze; (g) reinforcement of aromatic components; (h) wine enrichment during aging on fine lees; (i) yeast flocculation and autolysis in sparkling wines. Further discoveries related to their enological functions are foreseeable. Yeast-derived mannoproteins may well induce chemical, sensorial and health benefits, thus greatly improving wine quality.     

Motor functions of the parietal lobe

There is now general agreement that the posterior parietal cortex is part of the motor system. New data have confirmed its fundamental role in visuomotor transformations. Most interestingly, recent data showed that the inferior parietal lobule codes motor acts (such as grasping) in a specific way according to the action in which they are embedded. This particular motor organization appears to provide a neural mechanism for higher order cognitive motor functions, including understanding of intention. These functions, and peripersonal space representation, are represented in areas of the inferior parietal lobule, where visual information from both the dorsal and the ventral stream is integrated with motor information.     

Association connections of the cat's parietal cortex

Intercortical connections of primary sensory (visual, auditory, somatosensory) areas with the parietal association cortex were studied in cats by the retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase and the Fink-Heimer silver impregnation of degenerated fibers techniques. This combined study revealed the shape, size, and intracortical location of cells connecting the primary sensory areas monosynaptically with the parietal cortex and also the distribution of preterminals and terminals of the fibers of these cells in the parietal association cortex. The greatest number of cells forming connections with area 7 of the parietal association cortex was shown to occur in visual area V1, and with area 5 in somatosensory area S1. Besides pyramidal neurons tagged with horseradish peroxidase, which were located mainly in layers II–IV, a few tagged stellate and fusiform cells also were found. The results supplement and confirm data on afferent connections of the parietal association cortex in cats.M. Gor'kii Donetsk Medical Institute. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 3–6, January, 1981.     

Manifestations of selective visual attention in human parietal and temporal cortex according to evoked potentials

The event-related potentials (ERPs) in visual discrimination task in parietal and temporal cortical areas were recorded in 11 young adults during passive observation (involuntary attention) and target selection (voluntary attention). The voluntary selective attention resulted in: 1) increased ERP correlation between the parietal; and temporal cortical areas; 2) increased correlation of sequential ERPs in monopolar leads (P3, P4, T3, T4, T5, T6); and 3) increased correlation of sequential ERPs in bipolar leads (P3-T3, P3-T5, P4-T4, P4-T6). The findings suggest that voluntary attention maintains a concordant activity of the parietal and temporal cortical areas in execution of visual selection tasks.     

Associative connections of the cat parietal cortex

Interneuronal connections of area 7 of the cat parietal cortex with projection areas of the visual, auditory, and somatosensory cortex were analyzed by orthograde degeneration and retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase methods. By combined investigation the cortico-cortical sources of afferentation of parietal area 7 could be precisely identified and concentration sites of neurons sending their axons into this area identified, and the morphological characteristics of these neurons could also be determined.A. A. Ukhtomskii Physiological Institute, A. A. Zhdanov Leningrad State University. Donetsk Medical Institute. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 13–17, January–February, 1980.     

Spatio-temporal updating in the left posterior parietal cortex

Adopting an unusual posture can sometimes give rise to paradoxical experiences. For example, the subjective ordering of successive unseen tactile stimuli delivered to the two arms can be affected when people cross them. A growing body of evidence now highlights the role played by the parietal cortex in spatio-temporal information processing when sensory stimuli are delivered to the body or when actions are executed; however, little is known about the neural basis of such paradoxical feelings resulting from such unusual limb positions. Here, we demonstrate increased fMRI activation in the left posterior parietal cortex when human participants adopted a crossed hands posture with their eyes closed. Furthermore, by assessing tactile temporal order judgments (TOJs) in the same individuals, we observed a positive association between activity in this area and the degree of reversal in TOJs resulting from crossing arms. The strongest positive association was observed in the left intraparietal sulcus. This result implies that the left posterior parietal cortex may be critically involved in monitoring limb position and in spatio-temporal binding when serial events are delivered to the limbs.     

Tracking route progression in the posterior parietal cortex

Quick and efficient traversal of learned routes is critical to the survival of many animals. Routes can be defined by both the ordering of navigational epochs, such as continued forward motion or execution of a turn, and the distances separating them. The neural substrates conferring the ability to fluidly traverse complex routes are not well understood, but likely entail interactions between frontal, parietal, and rhinal cortices and the hippocampus. This paper demonstrates that posterior parietal cortical neurons map both individual and multiple navigational epochs with respect to their order in a route. In direct contrast to spatial firing patterns of hippocampal neurons, parietal neurons discharged in a place- and direction-independent fashion. Parietal route maps were scalable and versatile in that they were independent of the size and spatial configuration of navigational epochs. The results provide a framework in which to consider parietal function in spatial cognition.