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The role of the human posterior parietal cortex in memory‐guided saccade execution: a double‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation study
Author(s) -
Nyffeler Thomas,
Egli Andreas,
Pflugshaupt Tobias,
Von Wartburg Roman,
Wurtz Pascal,
Mosimann Urs,
Hess Christian W.,
Müri René M
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.04248.x
Subject(s) - saccade , transcranial magnetic stimulation , saccadic masking , neuroscience , psychology , posterior parietal cortex , eye movement , context (archaeology) , neurophysiology , stimulation , geography , archaeology
The present study investigated the role of the right posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in the triggering of memory‐guided saccades by means of double‐pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS). Shortly before saccade onset, dTMS with different interstimulus intervals (ISI; 35, 50, 65 or 80 ms) was applied. For contralateral saccades, dTMS significantly decreased saccadic latency with an ISI of 80 ms and increased saccadic gain with an ISI of 65 and 80 ms. Together with the findings of a previous study during frontal eye field (FEF) stimulation the present results demonstrate similarities and differences between both regions in the execution of memory‐guided saccades. Firstly, dTMS facilitates saccade triggering in both regions, but the timing is different. Secondly, dTMS over the PPC provokes a hypermetria of contralateral memory‐guided saccades that was not observed during FEF stimulation. The results are discussed within the context of recent neurophysiological findings in monkeys.