Reading � Parietal Cortex

Greg Detre

Wednesday, 17 May, 2000

Rolls � B&B III

 

Reading � Parietal Cortex�� 1

Rolls reading list1

Mark Potts essay1

 

Rolls reading list

Parietal visual areas

Andersen,R.A. (1995) Coordinate transformations and motor planning in the posterior parietal cortex. Ch. 33, pp. 519-532 in The Cognitive Neurosciences, ed. M.S.Gazzaniga. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. [BHa:G025 oversize]

*Kolb, B. & Whishaw, I.Q. (1996) Fundamentals of Human Neuropsychology. 4th edn. New York: W.H. Freeman. Section on Parietal Disorders: pp. 271-284. [BHa.K 083]

 

Mark Potts essay

Introduction

damage to parietal lobe �/span> diverse physical symptoms, especially non-verbal cognitive functions

= for spatial functions + �where� system

Anatomy

Connections to the parietal cortex

principle thalamocortical projections to the parietal cortex:

from the LP-pulvinar complex (receives from the superior colliculus and the pretectum)

also the thalamic intra-laminar nuclei

Connections from the parietal cortex

horse-radish peroxidase and radioactive amino acids

connections from the parietal cortex = hierarchically organised and gather at common destinations (e.g. prefrontal cortex, limbic system and the depth of STS)

Function

integrating somatosensory and visual input (and other sensory input) � mainly for control of movement

dated idea: map of the location of objects around the body, common to all senses (since movement with different senses is common/easy)

no evidence for single unified spatial map

different representations of space for different:

behavioural needs

levels of complexity (simple movements / topographical knowledge)

Posterior parietal cortex

viewer-centred system � the system that identifies the location, local orientation and motion of an object relative to the viewer

many visual areas in the posterior parietal region

and also multiple projections to motor systems for eyes + limbs

connections to prefrontal: has a role in the STM of location of events in space

monkey neurons: activity dependent on concurrent behaviour of the animal with respect to visual stimulation

response of posterior parietal neurons during sensory input and during movement

all respond to movements of the eyes and to the position of the eye in its socket (some are most responsive to behaviourally relevant stimulus, e.g. reward)

some are barely activated by stationary visual stimuli but respond strongly when attention is directed or eye/arm movement made towards stimulus

some respond to manipulation of the object, or its structural features

Stein (1992) � 2 characteristics of all posterior parietal neurons:

1.       combinations of sensory, motivational and motor information are received

2.       response is greatest when the animal attends to, or moves towards, a target

we might then expect posterior parietal neurons to be transforming sensory information into commands for directing attention and guiding motor outputs

human posterior parietal lesions:

impaired in distinguishing left from right

impaired mental manipulations of objects

spatial deficits � perhaps due to damage to temporal-parietal polysensory regions(Goodale & Milner, 1993), rather than to the dorsal stream�s role in visuomotor guidance

right hemisphere lesions (greater polysensory growth in the right hemisphere) �/span> greater deficits on complex spatial tasks

co-ordinate transformation for determining spatial location and forming plans

Andersen - combine information from different modalities to form 3 types of abstract representation:

head-centred � combines information about eye position + the location of a visual stimulus on the retina

body-centred � combines information about head, eye and retinal position

world-centred � combines vestibular signals with eye poistion and retinal position

 

 

Questions��������������������������������������������������������������������������

what is the �hierarchical organisation of the parietal cortex connections�?

depth of STS

 

ERPs

anderson�s planar gain fields

head/body/world-centred � other �centred views elsewhere?

LIP neurons

neuron vs neurone?

gain fields

cartesian co-ordinate system of world with >=3 neurons

unilateral lesion = damage to one side only?

apraxia = inability to perform given purposive actions; disturbance of movement where there is damage to skilled movement that is not caused by weakness, an inability to move, abnormal tone or posture, intellectual deterioration or other disorders of movement such as tremor

ataxia = lack of coordination of movement, esp. as causing unsteadiness of gait

anasagnosia = lack of bodily signals? not realising there�s anything wrong?

neglect = ignoring stimuli?

lobule = a small lobe; a lobular subdivision of a lobe.

lobe = a roundish projecting part, usually one of two or more similar portions into which an object is divided by a fissure; esp. one of the divisions of the liver, lungs, brain, or other organ

cingulate cortex

paraphasias

acalculia = an inability to do arithmetic

ideomotor apraxia = movements are not able to be copied by the patient, or the patient cannot make gestures

construction apraxia = where patients are unable to perform activities such as assembling, building or drawing

somato/agnosia