Causal evidence for the processing of bodily self in the anterior precuneus.
Dian Lyu, James Robert Stieger, Cindy Xin, Eileen Ma, Zoe Lusk, Mariel Kalkach Aparicio, Katherine Werbaneth, Claire Megan Perry, Karl Deisseroth, Vivek Buch, Josef Parvizi
Neuron August 16, 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.05.013 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 9 |
| Population | Patients with electrodes implanted bilaterally in the precuneus, posterior cingulate, and retrosplenial regions |
| Intervention | Direct cortical stimulation |
| Keywords | Body schema Brain network Connectivity Consciousness Corticocortical evoked potential Derealization Dissociation Fall Float |
| Key findings | Stimulating specific anterior precuneus sites caused dissociative changes in physical and spatial domains in all nine patients. The authors propose this subregion lies outside the default mode network but connects reciprocally with it, and that it supports cognitive processes requiring the self's physical point of reference within a spatial environment. |
Abstract
To probe the causal importance of the human posteromedial cortex (PMC) in processing the sense of self, we studied a rare cohort of nine patients with electrodes implanted bilaterally in the precuneus, posterior cingulate, and retrosplenial regions with a combination of neuroimaging, intracranial recordings, and direct cortical stimulations. In all participants, the stimulation of specific sites within the anterior precuneus (aPCu) caused dissociative changes in physical and spatial domains. Using single-pulse electrical stimulations and neuroimaging, we present effective and resting-state connectivity of aPCu hot zone with the rest of the brain and show that they are located outside the boundaries of the default mode network (DMN) but connected reciprocally with it. We propose that the function of this subregion of the PMC is integral to a range of cognitive processes that require the self's physical point of reference, given its location within a spatial environment.