title: [Neural mechanisms underlying visually guided action].
abstract: Visually guided action is generated via multiple modes of information processing. Here, we discuss three modes of neural processing underlying visually guided action. The first mode involves direct visuo-action association. In this mode, an action is planned to reach and grasp a target based on information about the target position (for reaching) and shape (for grasping). The network connecting the premotor and parietal cortices plays a central role in this mode. The second mode involves conditional visuo-action association. In this mode, a particular action is selected based on a rule associating a visual feature with an action. The third mode involves conditional visuo-goal association. In this mode, a visual signal is associated with a behavioral goal, but not with an action. A particular action is subsequently selected to meet this goal. Areas on the route from the inferotemporal cortex to the dorsal premotor cortex, such as the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia, play a role in achieving conditional visuo-action and conditional visuo-goal associations. In summary, our analysis suggests the involvement of multiple brain networks converging on the premotor cortex in the three modes of neural processing utilized for generating visually guided action.
authors.affiliation: Frontal Lobe Function Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hoshi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception