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The parietal reach region codes the next planned movement in a sequential reach task
1Computation and Neural Systems Program, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|February 13, 2001
Summary
The parietal reach region (PRR) primarily specifies immediate reach targets, not storing memories for future movements. This suggests PRR
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Motor Control
Background:
- The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) contains specialized subregions for planning distinct movements.
- The parietal reach region (PRR) is known to be active during reach planning tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether PRR activity during movement planning relates to remembering reach targets or specifying the immediate reach.
- To differentiate the roles of PRR in memory storage versus online movement specification.
Main Methods:
- Monkeys performed a task requiring them to remember two sequential target locations.
- Neural activity in the PRR was recorded during the delay period before movement execution.
Main Results:
- PRR neurons predominantly represented the target for the immediately upcoming reach.
- Representation of the remembered target for the second reach was rarely observed in PRR.
Conclusions:
- PRR activity is primarily associated with specifying the target for the impending reach.
- PRR may not play a significant role in storing memories for subsequent reach targets.