Posterior parietal cortex and long-term memory: some data from laboratory animals

Jociane C Myskiw,Iván Izquierdo

doi:10.3389/fnint.2012.00008

Abstract

The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) was long viewed as just involved in the perception of spatial relationships between the body and its surroundings and of movements related to them. In recent years the PPC has been shown to participate in many other cognitive processes, among which working memory and the consolidation and retrieval of episodic memory. The neurotransmitter and other molecular processes involved have been determined to a degree in rodents. More research will no doubt determine the extent to which these findings can be extrapolated to primates, including humans. In these there appears to be a paradox: imaging studies strongly suggest an important participation of the PPC in episodic memory, whereas lesion studies are much less suggestive, let alone conclusive. The data on the participation of the PPC in episodic memory so far do not permit any conclusion as to what aspect of consolidation and retrieval it handles in addition to those dealt with by the hippocampus and basolateral amygdala, if any.

Highlights

The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is involved in a variety of mental and neural processes, as other articles in this issue attest
The role of the PPC in working and long-term memory of spatial tasks is differentially affected by reversible inhibition of the PPC by the local infusion of lidocaine (Espina-Marchant et al, 2009)
Concerning the molecular mechanisms involved in retrieval beyond the receptor level in the PPC, infusion into that structure 5 min before retention testing of the extracellularly regulated kinases (ERKs) inhibitor PD098050, or of the inhibitor of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), Rp-cAMPs inhibit retrieval, whereas infusion of the PKA stimulant, Sp-cAMPs enhances retrieval of the inhibitory avoidance task (Barros et al, 2000; Szapiro et al, 2000)

Summary

INTEGRATIVE NEUROSCIENCE

Posterior parietal cortex and long-term memory: some data from laboratory animals. The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) was long viewed as just involved in the perception of spatial relationships between the body and its surroundings and of movements related to them. More research will no doubt determine the extent to which these findings can be extrapolated to primates, including humans. In these there appears to be a paradox: imaging studies strongly suggest an important participation of the PPC in episodic memory, whereas lesion studies are much less suggestive, let alone conclusive. The data on the participation of the PPC in episodic memory so far do not permit any conclusion as to what aspect of consolidation and retrieval it handles in addition to those dealt with by the hippocampus and basolateral amygdala, if any

INTRODUCTION

Myskiw and Izquierdo