Medial Dorsal Parietal Area (MDP)

Nomenclature, Location, Function, Connectivity, Human Homologue, Glossary

Nomenclature:

Defined as part of PEc/Pgm of [2] and 7m by [11].

Location:

Gross Anatomical Location

MDP is located ([12]) partially on the medial crest of the Intraparietal Sulcus (IPS), just caudal to the caudal crest of the Singulate Sulcus (CgS). From [1], it is roughly ~ .5 cm rostral-caudally and and ~1 cm medial-laterally.

Architectonic and Cytoarchitectonic Definition

[1] and [12] delineated MDP as a region of prominent inner outer bands of Baillarger and moderate myelination that was denser than surrounding cortex. They also found that immunoreactivity to SMI-32 in MDP was stronger than in surrounding cortex.

Flat map of IPS showing definition of MDP (From [1])

Function/Physiological Delineation:

[5] found that cells in MDP, which are usually insensitive to visual stimuli, played a role in interactions between gaze angle and hand position. No systematic physiological delineation was found.

[13] MDP appears to be an intermediate parietal link in the corticocortical network underlying visually guiding reaching. (Note connections below)

Connectivity:

MDP has topographically distinct connections with several systems. (From [3], [4], [6], [7], [8], [9], and [10]) Here we group connections physiologically:

Limbic:

-- Posterior Ventral bank of the Cingulate Sulcus

-- Granular restrosplenial cortex

-- Presubiculum

Visual:

-- Visual Area 2 (V2)

-- Visual Area 6a (V6a)

-- Parietal Occipital (PO)

-- Visual motion cortex in the upper bank of Superior Temporal Sulcus (STS).

-- Frontal Eye Field (saccadic) (FEFsac)

Somatosensory:

-- Supplementary Somatosensory Area (SSA)

-- Area 5 (5)

Motor:

-- Supplementary Motor Area (?) (SMA)

-- Dorsal Premotor area (PMd)

Other:

-- Walker's Area 45 (45)

-- Strong homotopic contralateral connections. All ipselateral connections copied in contralateral hemisphere.

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Human Homologue

None known.

Glossary

* Architectonic delineation: Delineation of an areas architecture using broad differential patterns like extent and type of myelination, immunohistochemistry, acetylchorlinesterase staining, etc.

* Cytoarchitectonic delineation: Delineation of an areas architecture according to cell type.

* Fundus: The trough, or bottom, of a sulcus.

* Immunohistochemistry: Staining method which stains groups of cells with similar immunoreactivity to various antibodies.

References

[1] J. Lewis and D. Van Essen, Journal of Comparative Neurology, 428, 79 (2000).

[2] D. N. Pandya and B. Selzter, Journal of Comparative Neurology, 204, 196 (1982).

[3] C. L. Colby and R. Gattass, C. R. Olson, C. G. Gross, Journal of Computational Neurology, 269, 392 (1988).

[4] R. Caminiti, A. Genovesio, B. Marconi, A. B. Mayer, P. Onorati, S. Ferraina, T. Mitsuda, S. Giannetti, S. Squartrito, M. G. Maioli, M. Molinari, Eur. J. Neurosci., 9, 3339 (1999).

[5] S. Ferriana, M. R. Garasto, A. Battablia-Mayer, P. Ferraresi, P.B. Johnson, F. Lacquaniti, R. Caminiti, Eur. J. Neurosci., 5, 1090 (1997).

[6] J. R. Tian, J. C. Lynch, J. Neurophysiol., 4, 2754, (1996).

[7] S. Ghosh, R. Gattera, Somatosens. Mot. Res., 12, 359, (1995).

[8] C. Carada, P. S. Goldman-Rackic, Neuroscience, 42, 683, (1991).

[9] C. Carada, P. S. Goldman-Rackic, Journal of Comparative Neurology, 287, 422 (1989).

[10] C. Carada, P. S. Goldman-Rackic, Journal of Comparative Neurology, 287, 393 (1989).

[11] T. M. Preuss, and P. S. Goldman-Rakic, Journal of Comparative Neurology, 310, 429 (1991).

[12] J. Lewis and D. Van Essen, Journal of Comparative Neurology, 428, 112 (2000).

[13] R. Caminiti, S. Ferraina, P. B. Johnson, Cerebral Cortex, 6, 319 (1996).