Work

Complex movements evoked by microstimulation of the ventral intraparietal area

Year: 2003

Type: article

Abstract: Most neurons in the ventral intraparietal area (VIP) of the macaque brain respond to both visual and tactile stimuli. The tactile receptive field is usually on the face, and the visual receptive field usually corresponds spatially to the tactile receptive field. In this study, electrical microstimulation of VIP, but not of surrounding tissue, caused a constellation of movements including eye closure, facial grimacing, head withdrawal, elevation of the shoulder, and movements of the hand to the space beside the head or shoulder. A similar set of movements was evoked by an air puff to the monkey's cheek. One interpretation is that VIP contributes to defensive movements triggered by stimuli on or near the head.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1031751100

Authors: Dylan F. Cooke, Charlotte S. R. Taylor, Tirin Moore, Michael S. A. Graziano

Institution: Princeton University

Language: English

Topic: Multisensory perception and integration

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Eye Institute, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke