Work

Effector-independence in the visuo-motor system: the case of foot action in people born without hands

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Many parts of the visuo-motor system are engaged in guiding the movement of the hands for daily tasks like reaching for and grasping objects. But to what extent is the organization of these regions dependent on the hand as a specific body part whose movement they guide, and to what extent are they organized for the grasping task, regardless of the body part used as an effector? We tested a unique population, people born without hands who use the feet as the primary effector (dysplasics), to address this question. In a functional neuroimaging experiment, dysplasics and typically-developed controls performed grasping and reaching actions with their primary effector, that is, the right foot for the dysplasics and right hand for the controls. Beyond primary sensorimotor cortices which showed selectivity for the hand and foot, we found a preference based on action type in parietal and frontal motor association areas including left anterior intraparietal sulcus and dorsal premotor cortex, regardless of the effector used. These results indicate that some motor association areas are organized based on abstract action functions independent of the specific sensorimotor parameters.

Source: Journal of Vision

DOI: 10.1167/jov.20.11.1236

Authors: Ella Striem-Amit, Yuqi Liu, Gilles Vannuscorps, Alfonso Caramazza

Institutions: Harvard University, Georgetown University Medical Center, University of Trento, UCLouvain, KU Leuven

Language: English

Topic: Motor Control and Adaptation

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,850