CORTICAL AREAS AND THE CONTROL OF SELF-DETERMINED FINGER MOVEMENTS - AN FMRI STUDY

WE investigated cortical areas involved in the control of self-determi ned finger movements. In a tapping task, subjects tapped with differen t movement frequencies in two different movement conditions (predeterm ined ss self-determined). fMRI provided evidence for the involvement o f the horizontal and ascending parts of the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) , the left superior frontal gyrus and the posterior cingulate gyrus in the control of self-determined finger movements. Higher movement freq uency increased the extent of activated area only in the horizontal pa rt of IFS. The results suggest a major role of the IFS in controlling sequences of finger movements. This area probably serves as a region f or integration of motor, sensory and sensorimotor feedback information used for movement control. (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.