In contrast, the competitive view would predict inhibitory representations to have a similar
distribution, and similar somatotopical specificity to positive motor representations. Our review suggests that NMAs are rather widely distributed across the frontal and prefrontal cortices, often anterior to positive motor areas (Uematsu et al., 1992), and show rather less somatotopical specificity than positive motor areas (See Effector-specificity of NMAs). Therefore, existing NMA evidence is more consistent with a top-down hierarchical Selleckchem BIBW2992 view of action inhibition rather than a competitive view. We have shown above that NMAs fall into two general clusters: a medial cluster focussed on the SMA, and a lateral cluster focussed on the IFG and premotor
cortex, and we have speculated that these may reflect two forms of inhibitory action control for executive decision and for praxis respectively. Interestingly, the Ceritinib supplier same medial-lateral gradient has also been interpreted as a distinction between systems for internally-generated and externally triggered action. This view was originally based on deficits in neurological patients (Goldberg, 1985), and primate ablation studies (Passingham, 2007), but was subsequently confirmed by electrophysiological recording studies in both medial and lateral areas (Tanji, 2001). The concept of internally generated action remains controversial (Nachev and Husain, 2010). We suggest that the medial/lateral distinction for action might be mirrored by a similar distinction between two forms of inhibition. The medial NMA cluster might be involved in stopping and regulation of so called internally generated actions, whilst lateral NMAs could be involved in the stopping of externally triggered action. Given the strong links between voluntary action and executive function on the one hand, and between object representation and praxis on the other, this distinction between internal and external processes for action inhibition can be seen as an alternative interpretation of the distinction made previously
between possible NMA contributions to action decision and fine motor execution. Bacterial neuraminidase Our review of NMA data shows support for the interesting possibility that two distinct cortical inhibitory systems might be associated with two distinct action control systems. Neurosurgical electrical stimulation data suggests the existence of a cortical network that suppresses actions: NMAs have a clear inhibitory effect on motor output. As such, NMA data could make an important contribution to neurocognitive theories of action control. In particular, NMAs demonstrate that inhibitory mechanisms remain available until very late in the action generation chain, since NMA stimulation arrests ongoing movement after movement initiation. Further, anatomical information provided by NMAs may be relevant for neuropsychology. In particular, NMAs have been found in two main areas: medially (SMA, pre-SMA) and laterally (IFG and premotor cortex).