Complex movements evoked by microstimulation of the ventral intraparietal area
Publication Year
2003
Type
Journal 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.
Keywords
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U. S. A.
Volume
100
Issue
10
Pages
6163-6168
ISSN Number
0027-8424
Alternate Journal
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
PMID
12719522
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