Connectional gradients underlie functional transitions in monkey pre-supplementary motor area

Davide Albertini, Marzio Gerbella, Marco Lanzilotto, Alessandro Livi, Monica Maranesi, Carolina Giulia Ferroni, Luca Bonini

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

The pre-supplementary motor area F6 is involved in a variety of functions in multiple domains, from planning/withholding goal-directed actions in space to rule-based cognitive processes and social interactions. Yet, the neural machinery underlying this functional heterogeneity remains unclear. Here, we measured local population dynamics in different rostro-caudal sites of cytoarchitectonically verified area F6 in two monkeys during spatial, contextual and motor processes, both in individual and social conditions. Then, we correlated multimodal population tuning with local anatomical connectivity revealed by neural tracer injections into the functionally characterized sites. We found stronger tuning for object position relative to the monkey in the rostral portion of area F6 than in its caudal part, which in turn exhibits stronger tuning to self and other's (observed) action. Functional specificities were associated with a rostro-caudal transition in connectivity strength from lateral prefrontal cortex, pregenual anterior cingulate cortex and associative striatum (rostrally), to dorso-ventral premotor areas and the motor putamen (caudally). These findings suggest that the functional heterogeneity of the pre-supplementary area F6 is accounted for by gradual transitions in functional properties grounded on local cortico-cortical and cortico-striatal connectional specificities.

Original languageEnglish
Article number101699
JournalProgress in Neurobiology
Volume184
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2020

Keywords

  • Action observation
  • Mirror neuron
  • motor control
  • Neuroanatomy
  • Pre-sma

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Connectional gradients underlie functional transitions in monkey pre-supplementary motor area'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this