The Journal of Neurophysiology Vol. 77 No. 6 June 1997, pp. 3386-3390
Copyright ©1997 The American Physiological Society

RAPID COMMUNICATION

Dissociation of Saccade-Related and Pursuit-Related Activation in Human Frontal Eye Fields as Revealed by fMRI

L. Petit, V. P. Clark, J. Ingeholm, and J. V. Haxby

Section on Functional Brain Imaging, Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1366

Petit, L., V. P. Clark, J. Ingeholm, and J. V. Haxby. Dissociation of saccade-related and pursuit-related activation in human frontal eye fields as revealed by fMRI. J. Neurophysiol. 77: 3386-3390, 1997. The location of the human frontal eye fields (FEFs) underlying horizontal visually guided saccadic and pursuit eye movements was investigated with the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging in five healthy humans. Execution of both saccadic and pursuit eye movements induced bilateral FEF activation located medially at the junction of the precentral sulcus and the superior frontal sulcus and extending laterally to the precentral gyrus. These findings extend previous functional imaging studies by providing the first functional imaging evidence of a specific activation in the FEF during smooth pursuit eye movements in healthy humans. FEF activation during smooth pursuit performance was smaller than during saccades. This finding, which may reflect the presence of a smaller pursuit-related region area in human FEF than the saccade-related region, is consistent with their relative size observed in the monkey. The mean location of the pursuit-related FEF was more inferior and lateral than the location of the saccade-related FEF. These results provide the first evidence that there are different subregions in the human FEF that are involved in the execution of two different types of eye movements, namely saccadic and pursuit eye movements. Moreover, this study provides additional evidence that the human FEF is located in Brodmann's area 6, unlike the monkey FEF which is located in the posterior part of Brodmann's area 8.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. S. Konen and S. Kastner Representation of Eye Movements and Stimulus Motion in Topographically Organized Areas of Human Posterior Parietal Cortex J. Neurosci., August 13, 2008; 28(33): 8361 - 8375. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. M. Cham, A. J. Anderson, and L. A. Abel Task-Induced Stress and Motivation Decrease Foveation-Period Durations in Infantile Nystagmus Syndrome Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., July 1, 2008; 49(7): 2977 - 2984. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. L. Miller, V. Maffei, G. Bosco, M. Iosa, M. Zago, E. Macaluso, and F. Lacquaniti Vestibular Nuclei and Cerebellum Put Visual Gravitational Motion in Context J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2008; 99(4): 1969 - 1982. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.R. Burke and G.R. Barnes Brain and Behavior: A Task-Dependent Eye Movement Study Cereb Cortex, January 1, 2008; 18(1): 126 - 135. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Macaluso, C. D. Frith, and J. Driver Delay Activity and Sensory-Motor Translation During Planned Eye or Hand Movements to Visual or Tactile Targets J Neurophysiol, November 1, 2007; 98(5): 3081 - 3094. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. S. Drew and P. van Donkelaar The Contribution of the Human FEF and SEF to Smooth Pursuit Initiation Cereb Cortex, November 1, 2007; 17(11): 2618 - 2624. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Indovina and E. Macaluso Dissociation of Stimulus Relevance and Saliency Factors during Shifts of Visuospatial Attention Cereb Cortex, July 1, 2007; 17(7): 1701 - 1711. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Kastner, K. DeSimone, C. S. Konen, S. M. Szczepanski, K. S. Weiner, and K. A. Schneider Topographic Maps in Human Frontal Cortex Revealed in Memory-Guided Saccade and Spatial Working-Memory Tasks J Neurophysiol, May 1, 2007; 97(5): 3494 - 3507. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. C. Singer, M. C. Humpich, H. Laufs, H. Lanfermann, H. Steinmetz, and T. Neumann-Haefelin Conjugate Eye Deviation in Acute Stroke: Incidence, Hemispheric Asymmetry, and Lesion Pattern Stroke, November 1, 2006; 37(11): 2726 - 2732. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. de Hemptinne, P. Lefevre, and M. Missal Influence of Cognitive Expectation on the Initiation of Anticipatory and Visual Pursuit Eye Movements in the Rhesus Monkey J Neurophysiol, June 1, 2006; 95(6): 3770 - 3782. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Amiez, P. Kostopoulos, A.-S. Champod, and M. Petrides Local morphology predicts functional organization of the dorsal premotor region in the human brain. J. Neurosci., March 8, 2006; 26(10): 2724 - 2731. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Shomstein and S. Yantis Parietal Cortex Mediates Voluntary Control of Spatial and Nonspatial Auditory Attention J. Neurosci., January 11, 2006; 26(2): 435 - 439. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. S. Simo, C. M. Krisky, and J. A. Sweeney Functional Neuroanatomy of Anticipatory Behavior: Dissociation between Sensory-driven and Memory-driven Systems Cereb Cortex, December 1, 2005; 15(12): 1982 - 1991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D.H. Weissman and M.G. Woldorff Hemispheric Asymmetries for Different Components of Global/Local Attention Occur in Distinct Temporo-parietal Loci Cereb Cortex, June 1, 2005; 15(6): 870 - 876. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. B. Rowe, K. E. Stephan, K. Friston, R. S.J. Frackowiak, and R. E. Passingham The Prefrontal Cortex shows Context-specific Changes in Effective Connectivity to Motor or Visual Cortex during the Selection of Action or Colour Cereb Cortex, January 1, 2005; 15(1): 85 - 95. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Tregellas, J. L. Tanabe, D. E. Miller, R. G. Ross, A. Olincy, and R. Freedman Neurobiology of Smooth Pursuit Eye Movement Deficits in Schizophrenia: An fMRI Study Am J Psychiatry, February 1, 2004; 161(2): 315 - 321. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. O. Dumoulin, C. L. Baker Jr, R. F. Hess, and A. C. Evans Cortical Specialization for Processing First- and Second-order Motion Cereb Cortex, December 1, 2003; 13(12): 1375 - 1385. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Dieterich, S. Bense, S. Lutz, A. Drzezga, T. Stephan, P. Bartenstein, and T. Brandt Dominance for Vestibular Cortical Function in the Non-dominant Hemisphere Cereb Cortex, September 1, 2003; 13(9): 994 - 1007. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Naito, I. Tateya, S. Hirano, M. Inoue, K. Funabiki, H. Toyoda, M. Ueno, K. Ishizu, Y. Nagahama, H. Fukuyama, et al. Cortical correlates of vestibulo-ocular reflex modulation: a PET study Brain, July 1, 2003; 126(7): 1562 - 1578. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. V. Astafiev, G. L. Shulman, C. M. Stanley, A. Z. Snyder, D. C. Van Essen, and M. Corbetta Functional Organization of Human Intraparietal and Frontal Cortex for Attending, Looking, and Pointing J. Neurosci., June 1, 2003; 23(11): 4689 - 4699. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Petit and M. S. Beauchamp Neural Basis of Visually Guided Head Movements Studied With fMRI J Neurophysiol, May 1, 2003; 89(5): 2516 - 2527. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Maquet, S. Schwartz, R. Passingham, and C. Frith Sleep-Related Consolidation of a Visuomotor Skill: Brain Mechanisms as Assessed by Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging J. Neurosci., February 15, 2003; 23(4): 1432 - 1440. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. L. Shulman, G. d'Avossa, A. P. Tansy, and M. Corbetta Two Attentional Processes in the Parietal Lobe Cereb Cortex, November 1, 2002; 12(11): 1124 - 1131. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. Simon, M. Meunier, L. Piettre, A. M. Berardi, C. M. Segebarth, and D. Boussaoud Spatial Attention and Memory Versus Motor Preparation: Premotor Cortex Involvement as Revealed by fMRI J Neurophysiol, October 1, 2002; 88(4): 2047 - 2057. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Luna, N. J. Minshew, K. E. Garver, N. A. Lazar, K. R. Thulborn, W. F. Eddy, and J. A. Sweeney Neocortical system abnormalities in autism: An fMRI study of spatial working memory Neurology, September 24, 2002; 59(6): 834 - 840. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. T. Avila, M. A. Weiler, A. C. Lahti, C. A. Tamminga, and G. K. Thaker Effects of Ketamine on Leading Saccades During Smooth-Pursuit Eye Movements May Implicate Cerebellar Dysfunction in Schizophrenia Am J Psychiatry, September 1, 2002; 159(9): 1490 - 1496. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Macaluso, C.D. Frith, and J. Driver Directing Attention to Locations and to Sensory Modalities: Multiple Levels of Selective Processing revealed with PET Cereb Cortex, April 1, 2002; 12(4): 357 - 368. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Tanaka and S. G. Lisberger Enhancement of Multiple Components of Pursuit Eye Movement by Microstimulation in the Arcuate Frontal Pursuit Area in Monkeys J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2002; 87(2): 802 - 818. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Rosano, C. M. Krisky, J. S. Welling, W. F. Eddy, B. Luna, K. R. Thulborn, and J. A. Sweeney Pursuit and Saccadic Eye Movement Subregions in Human Frontal Eye Field: A High-resolution fMRI Investigation Cereb Cortex, February 1, 2002; 12(2): 107 - 115. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Gagnon, G. A. O'Driscoll, M. Petrides, and G. B. Pike The effect of spatial and temporal information on saccades and neural activity in oculomotor structures Brain, January 1, 2002; 125(1): 123 - 139. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Bense, T. Stephan, T. A. Yousry, T. Brandt, and M. Dieterich Multisensory Cortical Signal Increases and Decreases During Vestibular Galvanic Stimulation (fMRI) J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2001; 85(2): 886 - 899. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Cornette, P. Dupont, G. Bormans, L. Mortelmans, and G.A. Orban Separate Neural Correlates for the Mnemonic Components of Successive Discrimination and Working Memory Tasks Cereb Cortex, January 1, 2001; 11(1): 59 - 72. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Perry and S. Zeki The neurology of saccades and covert shifts in spatial attention: An event-related fMRI study Brain, November 1, 2000; 123(11): 2273 - 2288. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.-H. Grosbras, E. Lobel, P.-F. Van de Moortele, D. LeBihan, and A. Berthoz An Anatomical Landmark for the Supplementary Eye Fields in Human Revealed with Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Cereb Cortex, October 1, 1999; 9(7): 705 - 711. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Petit and J. V. Haxby Functional Anatomy of Pursuit Eye Movements in Humans as Revealed by fMRI J Neurophysiol, July 1, 1999; 82(1): 463 - 471. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Petit, S. M. Courtney, L. G. Ungerleider, and J. V. Haxby Sustained Activity in the Medial Wall during Working Memory Delays J. Neurosci., November 15, 1998; 18(22): 9429 - 9437. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. C. Culham, S. A. Brandt, P. Cavanagh, N. G. Kanwisher, A. M. Dale, and R. B. H. Tootell Cortical fMRI Activation Produced by Attentive Tracking of Moving Targets J Neurophysiol, November 1, 1998; 80(5): 2657 - 2670. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Terao, H. Fukuda, Y. Ugawa, O. Hikosaka, R. Hanajima, T. Furubayashi, K. Sakai, S. Miyauchi, Y. Sasaki, and I. Kanazawa Visualization of the Information Flow Through Human Oculomotor Cortical Regions by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation J Neurophysiol, August 1, 1998; 80(2): 936 - 946. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Shi, H. R. Friedman, and C. J. Bruce Deficits in Smooth-Pursuit Eye Movements After Muscimol Inactivation Within the Primate's Frontal Eye Field J Neurophysiol, July 1, 1998; 80(1): 458 - 464. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Courtney, L. Petit, J. M. Maisog, L. G. Ungerleider, and J. V. Haxby An Area Specialized for Spatial Working Memory in Human Frontal Cortex Science, February 27, 1998; 279(5355): 1347 - 1351. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J.-r. Tian and J. C. Lynch Subcortical Input to the Smooth and Saccadic Eye Movement Subregions of the Frontal Eye Field in Cebus Monkey J. Neurosci., December 1, 1997; 17(23): 9233 - 9247. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]