Encoding of intention and spatial location in the posterior parietal cortex

The posterior parietal cortex is functionally situated between sensory cortex and motor cortex. The responses of cells in this area are dif-ficult to classify as strictly sensory or motor, since many have both sensory- and movement-related activities, as well as activities related to higher cognitive functions such as attention and intention. In this review we will provide evidence that the posterior parietal cortex is an interface between sensory and motor structures and performs var-ious functions important for sensory-motor integration. The review will focus on two specific sensory-motor tasks—the formation of motor plans and the abstract representation of space. Cells in the lateral intraparietal area, a subdivision of the parietal cortex, have activity related to eye movements the animal intends to make. This finding represents the lowest stage in the sensory-motor cortical pathway in which activity related to intention has been found and may represent the cortical stage in which sensory signals go "over the hump " t