Set-related activity in the premotor cortex of rhesus monkeys: effect of triggering cues and relatively long delay intervals.
"Set-related activity" has been defined as a significant alteration in neuronal discharge rate during an "instructed delay period," a period when a previously instructed movement is being withheld. It has been argued that set-related activity in the primate premotor cortex, or at least a significant proportion of it, reflects motor preparation. In most previous investigations, however, in which visual stimuli have triggered the movement and simultaneously indicated its target, set-related activity might reflect either the anticipation of or attention to the trigger stimulus. The present report shows that set-related activity is robust and can be directionally selective when trigger stimuli do not indicate the target and when a trigger stimulus is absent. Another feature of previous studies has been the relatively brief intervals between the instruction and trigger stimuli (typically 3 sec or less). In the present study, we were able to observe the activity of a small number of cells during longer delay periods. Set-related activity persists, although it becomes less consistent, for as much as 7.5 sec after an instruction stimulus. These results support the hypothesis that set-related activity reflects the preparation for specific limb movements.
Wise
S P
SP
Laboratory of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Poolesville, Maryland 20837.
Kurata
K
K
D000818:Animals; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*