Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 4, 2026
09:49
Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior
Published on: April 16, 2014
27.0K
Visual processing of optic flow and motor control in the human posterior cingulate sulcus
David T Field1, Laura A Inman1, Li Li2
1Centre for Integrative Neuroscience & Neurodynamics, Department of Psychology, University of Reading, UK.
Summary
The posterior cingulate cortex has separate visual (CSv) and motor (CMA) areas, not a single visuomotor region. Visual area CSv activity decreased during a visuomotor task, suggesting a novel role in self-motion control.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Human Brain Imaging
Background:
- The human posterior cingulate cortex is implicated in both visual processing of optic flow (CSv) and motor control (CMA).
- Previous research suggested a potential single visuomotor integration region in this area, leading to conflicting findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the posterior cingulate cortex contains a single visuomotor integration region or distinct visual and motor areas.
- To examine the activity patterns of these regions during a visuomotor task using fMRI.
Main Methods:
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was employed to map visual and motor areas within the posterior cingulate cortex in the same individuals.
- Participants performed a visuomotor task while undergoing fMRI scanning.
Main Results:
- The study identified adjacent but separate visual (CSv) and motor (CMA) regions within the posterior cingulate cortex.
- CSv is located in the fundus of the cingulate sulcus, while CMA is on the dorsal bank, slightly superior.
- Unexpectedly, activity in CSv was suppressed during the visuomotor task, despite using optic flow stimuli.
Conclusions:
- The posterior cingulate cortex does not house a single visuomotor integration region but rather distinct, neighboring visual and motor areas.
- The suppression of CSv activity during a visuomotor task suggests a specialized role in optic flow processing for self-motion control, distinct from direct motor engagement.
Keywords:
Cingulate sulcus motor areaCingulate sulcus visual areaOptic flowPosterior cingulateSelf-motionMore Related Videos
07:08Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
Published on: August 1, 2018
8.8K
07:12Development of a Gaze-Contingent Display Framework Designed for Perceptual and Oculomotor Research with Simulated Central Vision Loss
Published on: April 11, 2025
1.0K
Related Concept Videos
01:14Motor and Sensory Areas of the Cortex
9.1K
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....
9.1K
01:24Vision
61.6K
Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.
61.6K
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
10.6K
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,...
10.6K
01:20Parallel Processing
890
The brain processes sensory information rapidly due to parallel processing, which involves sending data across multiple neural pathways at the same time. This method allows the brain to manage various sensory qualities, such as shapes, colors, movements, and locations, all concurrently. For instance, when observing a forest landscape, the brain simultaneously processes the movement of leaves, the shapes of trees, the depth between them, and the various shades of green. This enables a quick and...
890
01:23Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
4.6K
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...
4.6K
01:28Major Somatic Sensory Pathways
3.5K
Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the...
3.5K