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Somatosensory cell response to an auditory cue in a haptic memory task
Yong-Di Zhou1, Joaquín M Fuster
1Department of Neurosurgery and Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. yzhou12@jhmi.edu
Behavioural Brain Research
|July 22, 2004
Summary
Neurons in the anterior parietal cortex (somatosensory cortex) respond to auditory cues that signal required arm and hand movements. This shows somatosensory neurons integrate auditory, tactile, and motor information for task performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Somatosensory System
- Auditory Processing
Background:
- Neurons in the anterior parietal cortex (Brodmann's areas 3a, 3b, 1, 2) can retain visual cue information linked to tactile stimuli in haptic memory tasks.
- This cross-modal transfer suggests somatosensory neurons respond to non-tactile stimuli when associated with task-relevant tactile information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if somatosensory cortex neurons activate in response to non-tactile stimuli that signal required haptic movements.
- To explore the role of these neurons in integrating auditory, tactile, and motor information.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings from neurons in the anterior parietal cortex of monkeys during a haptic memory task.
- Analysis of neuronal responses to auditory cues, arm/hand movements, object touch, and short-term memory recall.
Main Results:
- Neurons in anterior parietal areas showed short-latency activity changes in response to an auditory cue (click) that prompted arm and hand movements.
- Some neurons exhibited discharge patterns correlated with movement execution, object touch, and memory recall for tactile discrimination.
Conclusions:
- Somatosensory cortex neurons are activated by auditory stimuli signaling task-relevant movements.
- These neurons participate in the behavioral integration of auditory, other sensory stimuli, and motor acts associated with task performance.