Eye Position Effects on the Neuronal Activity of Dorsal Premotor Cortex in the Macaque Monkey

• DOI: 10.1152/jn.1998.80.3.1132
• Publication Date: 2017-12-25T04:51:09Z
• Authors: Driss Boussaoud; Christophe Jouffrais; Frank Bremmer
• Keywords: Premotor cortex; Premovement neuronal activity; Binocular neurons

Boussaoud, Driss, Christophe Jouffrais, and Frank Bremmer. Eye position effects on the neuronal activity of dorsal premotor cortex in macaque monkey. J. Neurophysiol. 80: 1132–1150, 1998. Visual inputs to brain are mapped a retinocentric reference frame, but motor system plans movements body-centered frame. This basic observation implies that must transform target coordinates from one frame another. Physiological studies revealed posterior parietal may contribute large part such transformation, question remains as whether areas receive visual information, cortex, readily coded coordinates. To answer this question, we studied (PMd) neurons two monkeys while they performed conditional visuomotor task maintained fixation at different gaze angles. stimuli were presented video monitor, made limb panel three touch pads located bottom monitor. A trial begins when monkey puts its hand central pad. Then, later trial, colored cue instructed movement left pad if red or right green. The cues lasted for variable delay, delay period, their offset served go signal. spot was center screen four peripheral locations. Because monkey's head restrained, fixations caused deviation eyes within orbit, each angle, instructional nine locations with constant After presentation cue, 133 PMd cells displayed phasic discharge (signal-related activity), 157 tonically active during period (set-related preparatory 104 after signal relation (movement-related activity). proportion showed variations rate direction, only modest proportions sensitive cue's location (signal, 43%; set, 34%; movement, 29%). More importantly, most 74%; 79%; 79%) varied significantly (analysis variance, P < 0.05) orbital eye position. regression analysis linearly along horizontal vertical axes can be approximated by two-dimensional plane. These data provide evidence signals modulate beyond sensory areas, including those involved visually guided reaching movements. Further, show related preparation execution combines least directional parameters: arm direction space. It is suggested substantial population codes head-centered