Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026
09:11
Design and Use of an Apparatus for Presenting Graspable Objects in 3D Workspace
Published on: August 8, 2019
5.3K
Contribution of the posterior parietal cortex in reaching, grasping, and using objects and tools.
1Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University Ghent, Belgium.
Frontiers in Psychology
|March 18, 2014
Summary
The posterior parietal cortex plays a key role in reaching and grasping. Different regions are involved in object manipulation, with a left-lateralized pattern for tool use planning.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- The posterior parietal cortex is implicated in sensorimotor transformations.
- Reaching and grasping involve distinct neural processes within the parietal lobe.
- Object and tool use can be studied through various tasks like actual use, pantomime, and imagery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the differential roles of posterior parietal regions in transitive gestures.
- To explore the neural basis of reaching, grasping, and object/tool manipulation.
- To clarify the lateralization patterns associated with different aspects of purposeful object interaction.
Main Methods:
- Review of neuropsychological and neuroimaging data.
- Analysis of studies involving reaching and grasping tasks.
- Examination of neuroimaging findings for actual, pantomimed, and imagined object/tool use.
Main Results:
- Reaching activates bilateral intraparietal sulcus foci; grasping involves the anterior intraparietal sulcus.
- Actual object/tool use shows left primary somatosensory activation, while pantomime/imagery activates the left supramarginal gyrus.
- Dorsal/medial parietal cortex aids online action adjustment; inferior lateral parietal cortex supports functional object use.
Conclusions:
- Parietal involvement in reaching and grasping relies on a bilateral intraparietal network.
- Functional object and tool use exhibits a left-lateralized activation pattern, integrating knowledge for movement guidance.
Keywords:
dorsal streamgraspinginferior parietal lobuleintraparietal sulcusparietal cortexreachingsuperior parietal lobuletool useMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:23Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
5.0K
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...
5.0K
01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
8.1K
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....
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....
8.1K
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
10.2K
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,...
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,...
10.2K
01:33Somatosensation
36.9K
The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.
36.9K
01:22Lobes of the Cerebrum
5.6K
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....
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements....
5.6K
01:14Role of Cerebellum and Prefrontal Cortex in Memory
1.5K
The cerebellum, while traditionally associated with motor control, also plays a crucial role in memory, particularly in procedural memory, which involves learning motor tasks that become automatic through repetition. For example, studies have shown that when the cerebellum is damaged, individuals or animals lose the ability to learn conditioned motor responses, such as the conditioned eye-blink response in classical conditioning experiments with rabbits. This study demonstrates the...
1.5K