We propose to further determine the functional and connectional organization of the dorsal stream visuomotor pathway from visual areas to motor areas. (1) We will identify functional subregions of posterior parietal cortex using microelectrode stimulation and optical imaging of evoked cortical activity. (2) Tracers will be injected in identified subregions and areas of cortex to reveal the cortical and subcortical connectional network. (3) We will evaluate the functional plasticity of posterior parietal subregions as a result of training on visuomotor tasks. (4) Finally, the functional contributions of subdivisions of the dorsal stream system to the performance of visuomotor tasks and the plasticity of the system will be evaluated after lesions of dorsal stream visual areas and parts of posterior parietal cortex. The results of these experiments will provide a new and extended understanding of the functional organization of the subsystem for visuomotor behavior in primates. In addition, the results will inform clinical interpretations of the consequences of damage to the visuomotor system in humans, and suggest mechanisms of recovery. Favorable therapeutic procedures may be based on the results.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed research will help determine how posterior parietal cortex links vision to action. The studies will define functional subdivisions of posterior parietal cortex, determine how these subdivisions fit into a connectional network, and evaluate the behavioral consequences of the loss of visual inputs to the network.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY002686-35
Application #
8120699
Study Section
Central Visual Processing Study Section (CVP)
Program Officer
Steinmetz, Michael A
Project Start
1978-06-01
Project End
2013-07-31
Budget Start
2011-08-01
Budget End
2012-07-31
Support Year
35
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$374,325
Indirect Cost
Name
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
004413456
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37212
Saraf, Mansi P; Balaram, Pooja; Pifferi, Fabien et al. (2018) Architectonic features and relative locations of primary sensory and related areas of neocortex in mouse lemurs. J Comp Neurol :
Takahata, Toru; Patel, Nimesh B; Balaram, Pooja et al. (2018) Long-term histological changes in the macaque primary visual cortex and the lateral geniculate nucleus after monocular deprivation produced by early restricted retinal lesions and diffuser induced form deprivation. J Comp Neurol 526:2955-2972
Krueger, Juliane; Disney, Anita A (2018) Structure and function of dual-source cholinergic modulation in early vision. J Comp Neurol :
Baldwin, Mary K L; Balaram, Pooja; Kaas, Jon H (2017) The evolution and functions of nuclei of the visual pulvinar in primates. J Comp Neurol 525:3207-3226
Takahata, Toru; Kaas, Jon H (2017) c-FOS expression in the visual system of tree shrews after monocular inactivation. J Comp Neurol 525:151-165
Stepniewska, Iwona; Cerkevich, Christina M; Kaas, Jon H (2016) Cortical Connections of the Caudal Portion of Posterior Parietal Cortex in Prosimian Galagos. Cereb Cortex 26:2753-77
Kaas, Jon H; Stepniewska, Iwona (2016) Evolution of posterior parietal cortex and parietal-frontal networks for specific actions in primates. J Comp Neurol 524:595-608
Gharbawie, Omar A; Stepniewska, Iwona; Kaas, Jon H (2016) The origins of thalamic inputs to grasp zones in frontal cortex of macaque monkeys. Brain Struct Funct 221:3123-40
Cooke, Dylan F; Stepniewska, Iwona; Miller, Daniel J et al. (2015) Reversible Deactivation of Motor Cortex Reveals Functional Connectivity with Posterior Parietal Cortex in the Prosimian Galago (Otolemur garnettii). J Neurosci 35:14406-22
Balaram, P; Isaamullah, M; Petry, H M et al. (2015) Distributions of vesicular glutamate transporters 1 and 2 in the visual system of tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri). J Comp Neurol 523:1792-808

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