Neural coding of action in three dimensions: Task‐ and time‐invariant reference frames for visuospatial and motor‐related activity in parietal area V6A

摘要: Goal-directed movements involve a series of neural computations that compare the sensory representations goal location and effector position, transform these into motor commands. Neurons in posterior parietal cortex (PPC) control several effectors (e.g., eye, hand, foot) encode variety spatial coordinate systems, including those anchored to gaze direction, positions head, shoulder, or hand. However, there is little evidence on whether reference frames depend also and/or type response. We addressed this issue macaque PPC area V6A, where previous reports using fixate-to-reach depth task, from different starting arm positions, indicated most units use mixed body/hand-centered coordinates. Here, we applied singular value decomposition gradient analyses characterize V6A while animals, instead reaching, performed nonspatial response (hand lift). found neurons used body/hand coordinates, "pure" body-, hand-centered During task progress effect hand position activity became stronger compared target location. Activity consistent with body-centered coding was present only subset active early task. Applying same population recorded during yielded similar results. These findings suggest between responses, functional property may allow integration awareness movement control.