A neural network predicting posterior parietal cortex function in the control of goal-directed arm movements

Abstract A neural network is developed to explain the intriguing pattern of pointing movement deficits observed previously in monkeys after small cortical parietal Area 7 lesions. It postulates the existence of major routes for neural activity propagation from the sensory to the motor cortex, and of separate routes for “intention-coding” activity which controls the sensory-motor propagation. The postulated network is held against a variety of neuroanatomical, electrophysiological, and lesion studies of Area 7, and its compliance with those data supports its validity.