Central precuneus lesions are associated with impaired executive function

The functional roles of the precuneus are unclear. Focal precuneus lesions are rare, making it difficult to identify robust brain-behavior relationships. Distinct functional subdivisions of the precuneus have been proposed based on unique connectivity profiles. This includes an association of the anterior division with bodily awareness, the central region with complex cognition, and the posterior division with visual processing. Our goal was to test the hypothesis that the central precuneus is preferentially involved (compared to the other sectors of the precuneus) in executive function, as estimated from performance on the trail-making test (TMT). 35 patients with focal brain lesions involving the precuneus were included from the University of Iowa and Montpellier University. Multivariate lesion symptom mapping of TMT performance was performed to evaluate whether lesion location was associated with impaired task performance. Lesion symptom mapping revealed a statistically significant association of central precuneus lesions with impaired TMT performance (r = 0.43, p < 0.01). Further, a functional network derived from this precuneus region showed connectivity to other cortical areas implicated in executive function, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and inferior parietal lobe. This analysis provides support for the role of the central precuneus in executive function, consistent with the unique connectivity pattern of the central precuneus with a broader network implicated in cognitive control and executive function.