From vision to hand action: Neuroscientists decipher how our brain controls grasping movements
Tuesday, July 26, 2016 - 10:01
in Psychology & Sociology
Our hands are highly developed grasping organs that are in continuous use. Long before we stir our first cup of coffee in the morning, our hands have executed a multitude of grasps. Directing a pen between our thumb and index finger over a piece of paper with absolute precision appears as easy as catching a ball or operating a doorknob. Now neuroscientists have studied how the brain controls the different grasping movements. In their research with rhesus macaques, it was found that the three brain areas that are responsible for planning and executing hand movements, perform different tasks within their neural network.