Brain: Intraparietal sulcus
Lateral surface of left cerebral hemisphere, viewed from the side. (Intraparietal sulcus visible at upper right, running horizontally.)
Principal fissures and lobes of the cerebrum viewed laterally. (Fissures not labeled, but parietal lobe is colored yellow.)
Latin	sulcus intraparietalis
Gray's	subject #189 822
Part of	Parietal lobe
Acronym(s)	IPS
NeuroNames	hier-79

The intraparietal sulcus (IPS) is located on the lateral surface of the parietal lobe, and consists of an oblique and a horizontal portion. The IPS contains a series of functionally distinct subregions that have been intensively investigated using both single cell neurophysiology in primates¹² and human functional neuroimaging³. Its principal functions are related to perceptual-motor coordination (for directing eye movements and reaching) and visual attention.

The IPS is also thought to play a role in other functions, including processing symbolic numerical information⁴, visuospatial working memory ⁵ and interpreting the intent of others.⁶

Additional images

Lateral surface of left cerebral hemisphere, viewed from above.

References

1. ^ Colby, C.E., & Goldberg, M.E. (1999). Space and attention in parietal cortex. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 22, 319–349.
2. ^ Andersen, R.A. (1989). Visual and eye movement functions of the posterior parietal cortex. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 12, 377–403.
3. ^ Culham, J.C. & Kanwisher, N.G. (2001) Neuroimaging of cognitive functions in human parietal cortex. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 11, 157-63.
4. ^ Cantlon J, Brannon E, Carter E, Pelphrey K (2006). "Functional imaging of numerical processing in adults and 4-y-old children.". PLoS Biol 4 (5): e125. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0040125. PMID 16594732.  link
5. ^ Todd JJ & Marois, R (2004). Capacity limit of visual short-term memory in human posterior parietal cortex. Nature, 428, 751-754
6. ^ Grafton, Hamilton (2006). "Dartmouth Study Finds How The Brain Interprets The Intent Of Others.". Science Daily, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/060216191651.htm. 

External links

• Illustrations at ssc.uwo.ca
• intraparietal+sulcus at eMedicine Dictionary

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