Parietal cortex coding of limb posture: In search of the body-schema

▶ This study used event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging [fMRI] to investigate brain areas involved in maintaining and updating the postural representations of the upper limb. ▶ The study identifies the neural correlates for executing memory-guided reaching movements to target locations that were defined by arm posture. These are within regions of the superior parietal lobule [SPL]: including an area of the medial SPL previously identified as the human homologue of the 'parietal reach region' [PRR]. ▶ The study uses effective connectivity analyses to show that signals that influence the SPL originate within premotor areas of the frontal lobe, including premotor cortex and the supplementary motor area.