Posterior parietal cortex

From Psy3242

Location and basic information:

The Posterior parietal cortex is located at the top right region of the brain. Unfortunately, there remains to be a lot of research in the future as the question of its function remains unclear. We do know that the PPC (parietal posterior cortex) is built into many minor regions that have different inputs and outputs. All of these sub regions seem to have different functions and makes this area of the brain even harder to understand. It is also known that the PPC corresponds with 5 and 7 of the Brodmann’s area in monkeys and humans. However, unlike monkeys, PPC also corresponds with humans in areas 39 and 40 of the Brodmann’s area.

The posterior parietal cortex's location, indicated by the light blue area

PPC connections, what it does, and where we will be going with it:

PPC is strongly related to the cingulated gyrus and the frontal cortex. More importantly, the PPC is very much linked to the basal ganglia and the cerebellum. (In other words, there is a great relation to the motor system. Also, the PPC receives motor signals as well visual and auditory output.

While we are still very much unaware of many of the functions in the PPC, we are very much attentive to the causes of a PPC that is stroke related. Patients with a stroke blown hole in their PPC tend to suffer Neglect Syndrome in which the patient has no sense of space on the left side of his/her body. Not only is it a problem to sense space, but these unfortunate patients can become mentally and physically away from their own bodies. Fortunately, some of these patients have been closely studied and through examinations, it can be gathered that the PPC might relate to spatial processing (eye movement), attention, generating commands, and the concept of consciousness. Further research is being developed throw MRI and PET imaging to determine issues with attention and saliency as it is unclear what causes a lack of attention when a stroke blows a hole in PPC.