Optokinetic stimulation and the egocentred midsagittal plane: an fMRI study

Animal studies and observations of neglect patients suggest that the posterior parietal cortex is part of a system that codes egocentred space. Few studies show the existence of areas involved in the representation of egocentred space in healthy humans. We investigated with fMRI and a conjunction protocol, the overlap of activity between optokinetic stimulation and a task of midline computation. Results showed that the right posterior parietal and frontal cortices were involved in both tasks (p < 0.0001). The evidence presented in this study provides the neuroanatomical substrate involved in the recovery of neglect during vestibular stimulation. This last point is of clinical interest for the rehabilitation of hemineglect. NeuroReport 13:61-65 (C) 2002 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.