Functional organisation of the saccadic reference system processing extraretinal signals in humans

In order to investigate the neuronal network involved in processing extrare tinal signals, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was applied to subjects performing the double step saccade paradigm. There, the calculatio n of the amplitude of the second saccade must rely on extraretinal signals of the first. When compared to a task where both saccades could be performe d by means of retinal signals alone, a parieto-frontal cortical network was activated, including lateral intraparietal area, precuneus, insula, inferi or frontal gyrus and anterior cingulum. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.