Scene perception-memory pairing extends to superior parietal cortex

Visual scene analysis relies on a set of scene-selective regions in posterior cerebral cortex (OPA, PPA, MPA), with a paired memory-responsive counterpart located in anterior (LPMA, VPMA) or overlapping (MPMA) cortex. The interaction between these pairs of regions is thought to integrate visual input with mnemonic context. Recently, a fourth scene-perception area in superior parietal cortex (SPA) was identified, with a proposed role in visually guided navigation. Whether this region also has an anterior paired memory region is currently unknown. Across two independent fMRI datasets (total N=24, 14 females) using static or dynamic stimuli and distinct memory tasks, we show that recalling visual scenes evokes robust responses in a region (referred to here as SPMA) immediately anterior and dorsal to SPA. During resting-state fMRI, SPA preferentially coupled with the other scene-perception areas, while SPMA preferentially coupled with the other place memory areas. At the whole-brain level, seed-based connectivity revealed that SPA sits at the confluence of four processing streams spanning regions implicated in egocentric scene perception, map-based navigation, perspective taking, and goal-directed movement. These findings extend the perception-memory motif associated with visual scene processing to a fourth cortical surface. The widespread anatomical coupling between scene-perception and memory processes reflects the importance of this interaction for flexible, context-grounded navigation.Significance statement Prior work has identified an anatomical pairing between cortical regions specialized for scene perception and memory on the lateral and ventral surfaces. This architectural motif is thought to support integration of visual input with environmental context. Using two independent fMRI datasets, we show that a recently identified fourth scene-perception area in superior parietal cortex follows the same organizational principle, and that it sits at the confluence of cortical streams linking egocentric vision, spatial memory, and goal-directed movement. This positions superior parietal cortex as a hub for context-grounded navigation.