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Related Concept Videos

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex01:23

Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

The somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes is crucial for interpreting sensory data such as touch, temperature, and proprioception. The somatosensory cortex, situated in the parietal lobes, plays a vital role in interpreting sensory information like touch, temperature, and proprioception—awareness of body position. This specialized brain region features an organized structure wherein neurons at the top primarily process sensations originating from the lower body. In contrast, those at the...
Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex01:14

Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex

The cerebral cortex, the brain's outermost layer, is pivotal in processing complex cognitive tasks, emotions, and various sensory inputs and executing voluntary motor activities. This intricate structure is divided into three primary functional areas: the motor areas, sensory areas, and association areas.
Motor Areas
The motor areas located in the frontal lobe are central to controlling voluntary movements. This region is further subdivided into the primary motor cortex and the premotor cortex.
Depth Perception and Spatial Vision01:15

Depth Perception and Spatial Vision

Depth perception is the ability to perceive objects three-dimensionally. It relies on two types of cues: binocular and monocular. Binocular cues depend on the combination of images from both eyes and how the eyes work together. Since the eyes are in slightly different positions, each eye captures a slightly different image. This disparity between images, known as binocular disparity, helps the brain interpret depth. When the brain compares these images, it determines the distance to an object.
Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Inertial Frames of Reference01:03

Inertial Frames of Reference

Newton’s first law is usually considered to be a statement about reference frames. It provides a method for identifying a special type of reference frame: the inertial reference frame. In principle, we can make the net force on a body zero. If its velocity relative to a given frame is constant, then that frame is said to be inertial. So, by definition, an inertial reference frame is a reference frame where Newton's first law holds valid. Newton's first law applies to objects with constant...
Lobes of the Cerebrum01:22

Lobes of the Cerebrum

The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.

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Assessing Human Spatial Navigation in a Virtual Space and its Sensitivity to Exercise
06:17

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Published on: January 26, 2024

Parietal cortex, navigation, and the construction of arbitrary reference frames for spatial information.

Douglas Nitz1

  • 1Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0515, USA. nitz@cogsci.ucsd.edu

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
|September 23, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Neurons in the parietal cortex can use abstract spatial references, not just body-centered ones. This brain region is crucial for navigation, helping select routes and guide movements.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Spatial Navigation

Background:

  • Parietal cortex neurons typically use body-centered frames of reference (e.g., retinal).
  • Recent studies suggest abstract or arbitrary frames of reference are also utilized.
  • Evidence exists in both rodent and primate models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review single-neuron recording experiments in rat parietal cortex.
  • To explore the role of the parietal cortex in navigational tasks.
  • To propose a model for parietal cortex involvement in route selection and guidance.

Main Methods:

  • Single-neuron recordings in freely behaving rats.
  • Review of existing literature on parietal cortex function in rodents and primates.
  • Theoretical modeling of navigational processes.

Main Results:

  • Parietal activity in rats is organized by routes taken through an environment.
  • Monkeys show evidence for object-centered frames of reference.
  • Parietal cortex activity can be independent of immediate sensory input.

Conclusions:

  • The parietal cortex utilizes diverse spatial frames of reference, including abstract and route-based ones.
  • In conjunction with the hippocampus, the parietal cortex is vital for selecting optimal navigation routes.
  • It generates route-based positional signals to guide sensorimotor transitions during navigation.