Polymodal motion processing in posterior parietal and premotor cortex: a human fMRI study strongly implies equivalencies between humans and monkeys

Neuron. 2001 Jan;29(1):287-96. doi: 10.1016/s0896-6273(01)00198-2.

Abstract

In monkeys, posterior parietal and premotor cortex play an important integrative role in polymodal motion processing. In contrast, our understanding of the convergence of senses in humans is only at its beginning. To test for equivalencies between macaque and human polymodal motion processing, we used functional MRI in normals while presenting moving visual, tactile, or auditory stimuli. Increased neural activity evoked by all three stimulus modalities was found in the depth of the intraparietal sulcus (IPS), ventral premotor, and lateral inferior postcentral cortex. The observed activations strongly suggest that polymodal motion processing in humans and monkeys is supported by equivalent areas. The activations in the depth of IPS imply that this area constitutes the human equivalent of macaque area VIP.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Brain Mapping / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Macaca
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Motion Perception / physiology*
  • Motor Cortex / anatomy & histology
  • Motor Cortex / physiology*
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Parietal Lobe / anatomy & histology
  • Parietal Lobe / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Physical Stimulation
  • Physiology, Comparative / methods*
  • Reference Values