Movement intention after parietal cortex stimulation in humans.

Full Abstract

Parietal and premotor cortex regions are serious contenders for bringing motor intentions and motor responses into awareness. We used electrical stimulation in seven patients undergoing awake brain surgery. Stimulating the right inferior parietal regions triggered a strong intention and desire to move the contralateral hand, arm, or foot, whereas stimulating the left inferior parietal region provoked the intention to move the lips and to talk. When stimulation intensity was increased in parietal areas, participants believed they had really performed these movements, although no electromyographic activity was detected. Stimulation of the premotor region triggered overt mouth and contralateral limb movements. Yet, patients firmly denied that they had moved. Conscious intention and motor awareness thus arise from increased parietal activity before movement execution.

Author information

Author/s: Desmurget, Michel (M); Reilly, Karen T (KT); Richard, Nathalie (N); Szathmari, Alexandru (A); Mottolese, Carmine (C); Sirigu, Angela (A);

Affiliation: Centre de Neuroscience Cognitive, CNRS, UMR 5229, 69500 Bron, France.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) (Science), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-May; vol 324 (issue 5928) : pp 811-3

Dates: Created 2009/05/08; Completed 2009/05/21;

PMID: 19423830, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 5/21/2009, IMS Date: 21 May 2009 00:00:00)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Science. 2009 May 8;324(5928):731-3. (PMID: 19423807)

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