The Journal of Neurophysiology Vol. 78 No. 5 November 1997, pp. 2413-2426
Copyright ©1997 The American Physiological Society

Reaching Movements With Similar Hand Paths but Different Arm Orientations. II. Activity of Individual Cells in Dorsal Premotor Cortex and Parietal Area 5 

Stephen H. Scott, Lauren E. Sergio, and John F. Kalaska

Centre de Recherche en Sciences Neurologiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada

Scott, Stephen H., Lauren E. Sergio, and John F. Kalaska. Reaching movements with similar hand paths but different arm orientations. II. Activity of individual cells in dorsal premotor cortex and parietal area 5. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 2413-2426, 1997. Neuronal activity in primary motor cortex (MI) is altered when monkeys make reaching movements along similar handpaths at shoulder level with two different arm orientations, either in the natural orientation with the elbow positioned below the level of the shoulder and hand or in an abducted orientation with the elbow abducted nearly to shoulder level. The present study examines to what degree two other cortical areas, the dorsal premotor (PMd) and parietal area 5, also show modulation of cell activity related to arm geometry during reaching. The activity of most (89%) of the 207 cells in PMd recorded while monkeys made reaching movements showed a statistically significant change in activity between orientations [analysis of variation (ANOVA), P < 0.01]. A common effect of arm orientation on cell activity was a change in the overall level of discharge either before, during, and/or after movement (67%, ANOVA, task main effect, P < 0.01). Many cells (76%) showed a statistical change in their response to movement direction (ANOVA, task × direction interaction term, P < 0.01), including changes in dynamic range and changes in the preferred direction of cells that were directionally tuned in both arm orientations. Overall, these effects were similar qualitatively but not as strong quantitatively as those observed in MI. A sample of cells was recorded in area 5 of one monkey. Most (95%) of the 79 area 5 cells showed a change in activity when reaching movements were performed using different arm orientations (ANOVA, P < 0.01). As in PMd and MI, many area 5 cells (56, 71%) showed changes in their tonic discharge before, during, and/or after movement, and 70 cells (89%) showed changes in their response to movement direction (ANOVA, task × direction interaction term, P < 0.01). The observed changes in neuronal activity related to posture and movement in MI, PMd and area 5 demonstrate that single-cell activity in these cortical areas is not simply related to the spatial attributes of hand trajectory but is also strongly influenced by attributes of movement related to arm geometry.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Liuzzi, V. Horniss, J. Hoppe, K. Heise, M. Zimerman, C. Gerloff, and F. C. Hummel Distinct Temporospatial Interhemispheric Interactions in the Human Primary and Premotor Cortex during Movement Preparation Cereb Cortex, November 11, 2009; (2009) bhp196v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. D. Giachritsis, A. M. Wing, and P. G. Lovell The role of spatial integration in the perception of surface orientation with active touch Atten Percept Psychophys, October 1, 2009; 71(7): 1628 - 1640. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Tziridis, P. W. Dicke, and P. Thier The Role of the Monkey Dorsal Pontine Nuclei in Goal-Directed Eye and Hand Movements J. Neurosci., May 13, 2009; 29(19): 6154 - 6166. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Bedard and J. N. Sanes Gaze and Hand Position Effects on Finger-Movement-Related Human Brain Activation J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2009; 101(2): 834 - 842. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Nakayama, T. Yamagata, J. Tanji, and E. Hoshi Transformation of a Virtual Action Plan into a Motor Plan in the Premotor Cortex J. Neurosci., October 8, 2008; 28(41): 10287 - 10297. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Bestmann, O. Swayne, F. Blankenburg, C. C. Ruff, P. Haggard, N. Weiskopf, O. Josephs, J. Driver, J. C. Rothwell, and N. S. Ward Dorsal Premotor Cortex Exerts State-Dependent Causal Influences on Activity in Contralateral Primary Motor and Dorsal Premotor Cortex Cereb Cortex, June 1, 2008; 18(6): 1281 - 1291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Chestek, A. P. Batista, G. Santhanam, B. M. Yu, A. Afshar, J. P. Cunningham, V. Gilja, S. I. Ryu, M. M. Churchland, and K. V. Shenoy Single-Neuron Stability during Repeated Reaching in Macaque Premotor Cortex J. Neurosci., October 3, 2007; 27(40): 10742 - 10750. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Dinstein, U. Hasson, N. Rubin, and D. J. Heeger Brain Areas Selective for Both Observed and Executed Movements J Neurophysiol, September 1, 2007; 98(3): 1415 - 1427. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. P. Batista, G. Santhanam, B. M. Yu, S. I. Ryu, A. Afshar, and K. V. Shenoy Reference Frames for Reach Planning in Macaque Dorsal Premotor Cortex J Neurophysiol, August 1, 2007; 98(2): 966 - 983. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. Suminski, S. M. Rao, K. M. Mosier, and R. A. Scheidt Neural and Electromyographic Correlates of Wrist Posture Control J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2007; 97(2): 1527 - 1545. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Beurze, F. P. de Lange, I. Toni, and W. P. Medendorp Integration of Target and Effector Information in the Human Brain During Reach Planning J Neurophysiol, January 1, 2007; 97(1): 188 - 199. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. M. Churchland, G. Santhanam, and K. V. Shenoy Preparatory Activity in Premotor and Motor Cortex Reflects the Speed of the Upcoming Reach J Neurophysiol, December 1, 2006; 96(6): 3130 - 3146. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Ren, A. Z. Khan, G. Blohm, D.Y.P. Henriques, L. E. Sergio, and J. D. Crawford Proprioceptive Guidance of Saccades in Eye-Hand Coordination J Neurophysiol, September 1, 2006; 96(3): 1464 - 1477. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Hamel-Paquet, L. E. Sergio, and J. F. Kalaska Parietal Area 5 Activity Does Not Reflect the Differential Time-Course of Motor Output Kinetics During Arm-Reaching and Isometric-Force Tasks J Neurophysiol, June 1, 2006; 95(6): 3353 - 3370. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Hoshi and J. Tanji Differential Involvement of Neurons in the Dorsal and Ventral Premotor Cortex During Processing of Visual Signals for Action Planning J Neurophysiol, June 1, 2006; 95(6): 3596 - 3616. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. E. Sergio, C. Hamel-Paquet, and J. F. Kalaska Motor Cortex Neural Correlates of Output Kinematics and Kinetics During Isometric-Force and Arm-Reaching Tasks J Neurophysiol, October 1, 2005; 94(4): 2353 - 2378. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Padoa-Schioppa, C.-S. R. Li, and E. Bizzi Neuronal Activity in the Supplementary Motor Area of Monkeys Adapting to a New Dynamic Environment J Neurophysiol, January 1, 2004; 91(1): 449 - 473. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				L. E. Brown, D. A. Rosenbaum, and R. L. Sainburg Limb Position Drift: Implications for Control of Posture and Movement J Neurophysiol, November 1, 2003; 90(5): 3105 - 3118. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Battaglia-Mayer, R. Caminiti, F. Lacquaniti, and M. Zago Multiple Levels of Representation of Reaching in the Parieto-frontal Network Cereb Cortex, October 1, 2003; 13(10): 1009 - 1022. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Sober and P. N. Sabes Multisensory Integration during Motor Planning J. Neurosci., August 6, 2003; 23(18): 6982 - 6992. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. N. Beloozerova and M. G. Sirota Integration of Motor and Visual Information in the Parietal Area 5 During Locomotion J Neurophysiol, August 1, 2003; 90(2): 961 - 971. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Cisek, D. J. Crammond, and J. F. Kalaska Neural Activity in Primary Motor and Dorsal Premotor Cortex In Reaching Tasks With the Contralateral Versus Ipsilateral Arm J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2003; 89(2): 922 - 942. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. E. Sergio and J. F. Kalaska Systematic Changes in Motor Cortex Cell Activity With Arm Posture During Directional Isometric Force Generation J Neurophysiol, January 1, 2003; 89(1): 212 - 228. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Pigeon, S. B. Bortolami, P. DiZio, and J. R. Lackner Coordinated Turn-and-Reach Movements. II. Planning in an External Frame of Reference J Neurophysiol, January 1, 2003; 89(1): 290 - 303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Sakai, N. Ramnani, and R. E. Passingham Learning of Sequences of Finger Movements and Timing: Frontal Lobe and Action-Oriented Representation J Neurophysiol, October 1, 2002; 88(4): 2035 - 2046. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Baraduc and D. M. Wolpert Adaptation to a Visuomotor Shift Depends on the Starting Posture J Neurophysiol, August 1, 2002; 88(2): 973 - 981. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Cisek and J. F. Kalaska Modest Gaze-Related Discharge Modulation in Monkey Dorsal Premotor Cortex During a Reaching Task Performed With Free Fixation J Neurophysiol, August 1, 2002; 88(2): 1064 - 1072. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Hoshi and J. Tanji Contrasting Neuronal Activity in the Dorsal and Ventral Premotor Areas During Preparation to Reach J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2002; 87(2): 1123 - 1128. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. W. Cabel, P. Cisek, and S. H. Scott Neural Activity in Primary Motor Cortex Related to Mechanical Loads Applied to the Shoulder and Elbow During a Postural Task J Neurophysiol, October 1, 2001; 86(4): 2102 - 2108. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Desmurget, H. Grea, J. S. Grethe, C. Prablanc, G. E. Alexander, and S. T. Grafton Functional Anatomy of Nonvisual Feedback Loops during Reaching: A Positron Emission Tomography Study J. Neurosci., April 15, 2001; 21(8): 2919 - 2928. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Ajemian, D. Bullock, and S. Grossberg Kinematic Coordinates In Which Motor Cortical Cells Encode Movement Direction J Neurophysiol, November 1, 2000; 84(5): 2191 - 2203. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Messier and J. F. Kalaska Covariation of Primate Dorsal Premotor Cell Activity With Direction and Amplitude During a Memorized-Delay Reaching Task J Neurophysiol, July 1, 2000; 84(1): 152 - 165. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. S. Turner, S. T. Grafton, J. R. Votaw, M. R. Delong, and J. M. Hoffman Motor Subcircuits Mediating the Control of Movement Velocity: A PET Study J Neurophysiol, October 1, 1998; 80(4): 2162 - 2176. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. V. Adamovich, M. B. Berkinblit, O. Fookson, and H. Poizner Pointing in 3D Space to Remembered Targets. I. Kinesthetic Versus Visual Target Presentation J Neurophysiol, June 1, 1998; 79(6): 2833 - 2846. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]