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[Neuronal activity of monkey dorso-lateral premotor cortex during tasks of figure recognition guided motor sequence
Y C Chen1, F D Huang, N H Chen
1Shanghai Institute of Brain Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031.
Abstract:
In the last 2-3 decades the role of the premotor cortex (PM) of monkey in memorized spatial sequential (MSS) movements has been amply investigated. However, it is as yet not known whether PM participates in the movement sequence behaviour guided by recognition of visual figures (i.e. the figure-recognition sequence, FRS). In the present work three monkeys were trained to perform both FRS and MSS tasks. Postmortem examination showed that 202 cells were in the dorso-lateral premotor cortex. Among 111 cells recorded during the two tasks, more than 50% changed their activity during the cue periods in either task. During the response period, the ratios of cells with changes of firing rate in both FRS and MSS were high and roughly equal to each other, while during the image period, the proportion in the FRS (83.7%) was significantly higher than that in the MSS (66.7%). Comparison of neuronal activities during same motor sequence of two different tasks showed that during the image periods PM neuronal activities were more closely related to the FRS task, while during the cue periods no difference could be found. Analysis of cell responses showed that the neurons with longer latency were much more in MSS than in FRS in either cue or image period. The present results indicate that the premotor cortex participates in FRS motor sequence as well as in MSS and suggest that the dorso-lateral PM represents another subarea in function shared by both FRS and MSS tasks. However, in view of the differences of PM neuronal responses in cue or image periods of FRS and MSS tasks, it seems likely that neural networks involved in FRS and MSS tasks are different.
Insights
The premotor cortex (PM) is involved in both memorized spatial sequential (MSS) and figure-recognition sequence (FRS) movements. While PM participates in both, distinct neural networks likely support FRS and MSS tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Primate Motor Control
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Context:
- The premotor cortex (PM) role in memorized spatial sequential (MSS) movements is well-established.
- Its involvement in figure-recognition sequence (FRS) motor tasks remains less understood.
- This study investigates PM neuronal activity during both MSS and FRS tasks in monkeys.
Purpose:
- To determine if the premotor cortex (PM) participates in figure-recognition sequence (FRS) motor tasks.
- To compare neuronal activity in the dorso-lateral PM during FRS and MSS tasks.
- To elucidate potential differences in neural processing between FRS and MSS tasks.
Summary:
- Monkeys performed both FRS and MSS tasks while neuronal activity in the dorso-lateral PM was recorded.
- Over 50% of recorded cells showed altered activity during cue periods for either task.
- Neuronal responses during the image period were significantly higher for FRS compared to MSS, suggesting task-specific processing.
Impact:
- The premotor cortex (PM) is confirmed to play a role in both FRS and MSS motor sequences.
- Findings suggest that while the dorso-lateral PM is involved in both, distinct neural networks underlie FRS and MSS.
- This research provides insights into the neural mechanisms differentiating visually guided versus memorized motor sequences.
