Intraparietal sulcus
Encyclopedia
The intraparietal sulcus (IPS) is located on the lateral surface of the parietal lobe
, and consists of an oblique and a horizontal portion. The IPS contains a series of functionally distinct subregions that have been intensively investigated using both single cell neurophysiology in primates and human functional neuroimaging.
Its principal functions are related to perceptual-motor coordination (for directing eye movements and reaching) and visual attention.
The IPS is also thought to play a role in other functions, including processing symbolic numerical information, visuospatial working memory and interpreting the intent
of others.
. Children with developmental dyscalculia were found to have less gray matter in the left IPS.
All of these areas have projections to the frontal lobe for executive control.
Parietal lobe
The parietal lobe is a part of the Brain positioned above the occipital lobe and behind the frontal lobe.The parietal lobe integrates sensory information from different modalities, particularly determining spatial sense and navigation. For example, it comprises somatosensory cortex and the...
, and consists of an oblique and a horizontal portion. The IPS contains a series of functionally distinct subregions that have been intensively investigated using both single cell neurophysiology in primates and human functional neuroimaging.
Its principal functions are related to perceptual-motor coordination (for directing eye movements and reaching) and visual attention.
The IPS is also thought to play a role in other functions, including processing symbolic numerical information, visuospatial working memory and interpreting the intent
Intention
Intention is an agent's specific purpose in performing an action or series of actions, the end or goal that is aimed at. Outcomes that are unanticipated or unforeseen are known as unintended consequences....
of others.
The IPS role in numerical cognition
Behavioral studies suggest that the IPS is associated with impairments of basic numerical magnitude processing and that there is a pattern of structural and functional alternations in the IPS and in the PFC in dyscalculiaDyscalculia
Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability involving innate difficulty in learning or comprehending simple arithmetic. It is akin to dyslexia and includes difficulty in understanding numbers, learning how to manipulate numbers, learning maths facts, and a number of other related symptoms...
. Children with developmental dyscalculia were found to have less gray matter in the left IPS.
Other roles of the IPS
Five regions of the intraparietal sulcus (IPS): anterior, lateral, ventral, caudal, and medial- LIPLateral intraparietal cortexThe Lateral Intraparietal Cortex is found in the intraparietal sulcus of the brain. This area is most likely involved in eye movement, as electrical stimulation evokes saccades of the eyes...
& VIP: involved in visual attention and saccadicSaccadeA saccade is a fast movement of an eye, head or other part of an animal's body or device. It can also be a fast shift in frequency of an emitted signal or other quick change. Saccades are quick, simultaneous movements of both eyes in the same direction...
eye movements - VIP & MIP: visual control of reaching and pointing
- AIP: visual control of grasping and manipulating hand movements
- CIP: perception of depth from stereopsis
All of these areas have projections to the frontal lobe for executive control.