Cortical neurons projecting to the posterior part of the superior temporal sulcus with particular reference to the posterior association area. An HRP study in the monkey.

Abstract

Corticocortical connections from the posterior association area to the posterior part of the superior temporal sulcal cortex (STs area) were studied in the monkey by means of retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or wheatgerm-agglutinin-conjugated HRP (WGA-HRP). After injecting 0.05-0.2 microliter of 50% HRP or 5% WGA-HRP into the STs area, labeled cells were examined in various cortical regions. The dorsal wall of the STs receives fibers mainly from the inferior parietal lobule (area 7) and superior temporal gyrus (area 22), whereas the ventral wall and floor part of the STs receive fibers from the posterior inferotemporal gyrus (area TEO) and prestriate cortex (areas 18 and 19). The deeper parts of the dorsal wall close to the floor region of the STs area also receive many fibers from the cortical walls surrounding the intraparietal, lunate and lateral sulci. Both the dorsal and ventral cortical walls of the intraparietal sulcus send fibers mainly to the deep dorsal wall of the STs. The ventral wall of the STs, on the other hand, receives fibers only from the ventral wall of the intraparietal sulcus. The medial surface of the prestriate cortex and the parahippocampal region send fibers to both walls of the STs. In the prestriate-STs projections originating from areas around the parieto-occipital sulcus, a topographic correlation is present; area 19 located anterior to the sulcus projects to the dorsal wall, whereas area 18 situated posterior to the sulcus projects to the ventral wall. Only the dorsal wall receives fibers from the cingulate (areas 23 and 24) and subparietal gyri (area 7). The deeper part of the dorsal wall and the ventral wall of the posterior STs area are interconnected with each other, while the upper part of the dorsal wall does not appear to receive fibers from the ventral wall.