Posterior parietal cortex

Details
Synonyms
Pronunciation
Carnegie stage
Days
Precursor
Gives rise to
Part of

The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is a region of the parietal lobe in the brain that plays a crucial role in the planning of movements, spatial reasoning, and attention. It is located posterior to the primary somatosensory cortex and is involved in integrating sensory information from various parts of the body, understanding spatial relationships, and coordinating movements.

Anatomy

The posterior parietal cortex is situated in the parietal lobe, which is one of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex. The PPC itself can be divided into several subregions, including the superior parietal lobule and the inferior parietal lobule. These subregions are further divided into smaller areas, such as the Brodmann area 5, Brodmann area 7, Brodmann area 39, and Brodmann area 40.

Functions

The posterior parietal cortex is involved in a variety of functions, including:

• **Spatial reasoning**: The PPC helps in understanding spatial relationships and the position of objects in space. This is crucial for tasks such as navigation and manipulating objects.
• **Movement planning**: The PPC plays a role in the planning and coordination of movements. It integrates sensory information to guide motor actions.
• **Attention**: The PPC is involved in directing attention to different parts of the visual field and is important for visual attention and perception.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the posterior parietal cortex can result in several neurological conditions, including:

• **Hemineglect**: A condition where a person is unable to attend to one side of their visual field, often due to damage to the right PPC.
• **Balint's syndrome**: A rare neurological condition characterized by difficulties in movement coordination and visual attention, often resulting from bilateral PPC damage.
• **Apraxia**: A motor disorder caused by damage to the PPC, leading to difficulties in performing planned movements.

Research

Ongoing research in neuroscience is focused on understanding the precise functions of the posterior parietal cortex and its role in various cognitive processes. Studies often use techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electrophysiology to investigate the activity of the PPC during different tasks.

See also

• Parietal lobe
• Primary somatosensory cortex
• Brodmann area
• Hemineglect
• Balint's syndrome
• Apraxia