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Differential neural dynamics underling pragmatic and semantic affordance processing in macaque ventral premotor
Monica Maranesi1, Stefania Bruni2,3, Alessandro Livi2,4
1Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, via Volturno 39, 43125, Parma, Italy. monica.maranesi@unipr.it.
Premotor cortex neurons process object information differently based on task relevance. Semantic processing is transient, while pragmatic processing is sustained, impacting motor plans for grasping.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Primate Motor Control
Background:
- Premotor neurons are crucial for translating object properties into grasping motor plans.
- These neurons also contribute to semantic processing, differentiating objects by behavioral relevance (e.g., edible vs. inedible).
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the neural responses of monkey ventral premotor area F5 neurons during pragmatic (PT) and semantic (ST) visuomotor tasks.
- To investigate the temporal dynamics of semantic versus pragmatic affordance processing.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings from single neurons in area F5 of monkeys.
- Comparison of neuronal activity during pragmatic and semantic visuomotor tasks, including Go and No-go trials.
Main Results:
- Object presentation responses in the semantic task (ST) had shorter latency and lower object selectivity than in the pragmatic task (PT).
- Semantic affordances were represented transiently (within 0.5s), while pragmatic affordances were sustained during Go trials.
- During No-go trials, both semantic and pragmatic information processing showed similar time courses.
Conclusions:
- Premotor cortex exhibits distinct neural dynamics for processing semantic versus pragmatic information.
- The temporal representation of affordances differs based on task context, suggesting context-dependent neural computations.
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