title: Single-pulse Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Reveals Contribution of Premotor Cortex to Object Shape Recognition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is known that ventral premotor cortex responds selectively to the visual perception of object shapes. However, it is unclear whether this activation also contributes to visual processing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study we want to assess whether activation in premotor areas contributes to visual perception of objects.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measure performance on a perception task while delivering single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the left premotor cortex at different latencies after stimulus onset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We show that in cases of limited visual consciousness, disturbing the left premotor cortex 150 ms after stimulus onset results in a decrease in the capacity to recognize shapes, compared both to other latencies and to stimulation of the vertex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Premotor cortex plays a constitutive role in object shape recognition.
authors.affiliation: University of Parma, Department of Neuroscience, Via Volturno 39, 43120 Parma, Italy. Electronic address: sebo.uithol@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sebo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uithol
authors.affiliation: University of Parma, Department of Neuroscience, Via Volturno 39, 43120 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franca
authors.affiliation: University of Parma, Department of Neuroscience, Via Volturno 39, 43120 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heimann
authors.affiliation: University of Chieti, Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, Via dei Vestini 29, 66013 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marzoli
authors.affiliation: University of Chieti-Pescara, Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, ITAB, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capotosto
authors.affiliation: University of Chieti, Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, Via dei Vestini 29, 66013 Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tommasi
authors.affiliation: University of Parma, Department of Neuroscience, Via Volturno 39, 43120 Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gallese
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
keywords: Action; Affordance; Premotor cortex; Transcranial magnetic stimulation; Visual perception