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Neuronal representation of saccadic error in macaque posterior parietal cortex (PPC)
Yang Zhou1,2,3, Yining Liu4, Haidong Lu1
1State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
Elife
|April 21, 2016
Summary
The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in macaques represents intended and actual saccade endpoints. PPC neurons signal saccadic error, crucial for motor learning and corrective eye movements.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Motor Control
Background:
- Accurate motor control relies on comparing intended movements with executed actions.
- The brainstem-cerebellum is known for motor error detection, but neocortical roles are less understood.
- The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is implicated in sensorimotor integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neuronal computation and representation of saccadic error in the macaque PPC.
- To elucidate the role of PPC in motor error detection and learning.
Main Methods:
- Recording neuronal activity in the PPC of macaques during a saccade task.
- Analyzing persistent pre- and post-saccadic response (PPS) and late post-saccadic response (LPS) neuronal activity.
- Correlating neuronal activity with intended/actual saccade endpoints and corrective saccades.
Main Results:
- Neurons with PPS activity encode the intended saccade end-position.
- Neurons with LPS activity encode the actual saccade end-position.
- PPC neuronal activity correlates with saccadic error and the likelihood of corrective saccades after LPS signal arrival.
Conclusions:
- The PPC computes saccadic error signals by integrating intended and actual movement information.
- This computation in PPC may accelerate saccadic motor learning.
- PPC activity contributes to the generation of secondary, corrective saccades.
