Distinct subdivisions of human medial parietal cortex support recollection of people and places
Abstract
Human medial parietal cortex (MPC) is implicated in multiple cognitive processes including memory recall, visual scene processing and navigation, and is a core component of the default mode network. Here, we demonstrate distinct subdivisions of MPC that are selectively recruited during memory recall of either specific people or places. First, distinct regions of MPC exhibited differential functional connectivity with medial and lateral regions of ventral temporal cortex (VTC). Second, these same medial regions showed selective, but negative, responses to the visual presentation of different stimulus categories, with clear preferences for scenes and faces. Finally, and most critically, these regions were differentially recruited during memory recall of either people or places with a strong familiarity advantage. Taken together, these data suggest that the organizing principle defining the medial-lateral axis of VTC is reflected in MPC, but in the context of memory recall.
Data availability
Source data files have been provided for Figures 4 and 7 and Supplementary Figures 2, 3, & 4.
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Funding
This work was supported by the Intramural Research Program (ZIAMH002909) of the National Institutes of Health - National Institute of Mental Health Clinical Study Protocol 93 M-0170, NCT00001360.
Ethics
Human subjects: All participants gave written informed consent according to procedures approved by the NIH Institutional Review Board (protocol 93-M-0170, clinical trials # NCT00001360).
Reviewing Editor
- Thomas Yeo, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Publication history
- Received: April 3, 2019
- Accepted: July 13, 2019
- Accepted Manuscript published: July 15, 2019 (version 1)
- Version of Record published: July 30, 2019 (version 2)
Copyright
This is an open-access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.
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