Posterior parietal cortex

Posterior Parietal Cortex

The Posterior Parietal Cortex (PPC) is a part of the parietal lobe in the brain that plays a key role in planned movements, spatial reasoning, and attention. It is located in the upper back part of the brain, behind the central sulcus and above the occipital lobe.

File:Gray726 posterior parietal cortex.png

The location of the posterior parietal cortex in the human brain.

Anatomy[edit | edit source]

The PPC is divided into two main regions: the superior parietal lobule (SPL) and the inferior parietal lobule (IPL). The SPL is involved in spatial orientation, while the IPL is involved in a variety of functions including attention and perception of emotions.

Function[edit | edit source]

The PPC is involved in a variety of cognitive functions. It is crucial for the perception of spatial relationships and the planning of movements. It is also involved in attention, particularly the ability to shift attention between different tasks. Additionally, the PPC plays a role in the perception of the body's own movements and position, known as proprioception.

Clinical significance[edit | edit source]

Damage to the PPC can result in a variety of neurological disorders. These include Balint's syndrome, which is characterized by an inability to perceive the visual field as a whole, and Gerstmann's syndrome, which involves difficulties with writing, arithmetic, distinguishing left from right, and identifying fingers.

Research[edit | edit source]

Research on the PPC has contributed to our understanding of many aspects of cognition, including attention, perception, and action. Studies have used a variety of methods, including neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), as well as studies of patients with damage to this area.