Precuneus

Precuneus connectivity new

Precuneus animation

Cerebral Gyri - Medial Surface1

Human brain inferior-medial view with marked Precuneus

ParietCapts medial

File:Cerebral Hemisphere Demonstration - Sanjoy Sanyal - Neuroscience Lab Fall 2013 (Cropped from 30m22s to 31m22s) Precuneus.webm Precuneus

The precuneus is a part of the brain located on the medial surface of the parietal lobe. It is situated between the cuneus and the paracentral lobule, and is bounded anteriorly by the marginal sulcus and posteriorly by the parieto-occipital sulcus. The precuneus is involved in a variety of complex functions, including visuospatial processing, episodic memory, and aspects of consciousness.

Anatomy

The precuneus is a subdivision of the parietal lobe and is located in the medial part of the brain. It is bordered by the cingulate gyrus inferiorly and the superior parietal lobule laterally. The region is supplied by branches of the posterior cerebral artery and the anterior cerebral artery.

Functions

The precuneus is implicated in several high-level cognitive functions:

• Visuospatial Processing: The precuneus plays a crucial role in spatial orientation and the perception of the environment.
• Episodic Memory: It is involved in the retrieval of autobiographical memories and the mental imagery associated with these memories.
• Self-Referential Processing: The precuneus is active during tasks that involve self-reflection and the contemplation of one's own thoughts and feelings.
• Consciousness: Studies have shown that the precuneus is active during states of wakefulness and conscious awareness.

Clinical Significance

Damage to the precuneus can result in a variety of neurological deficits. Lesions in this area can lead to impairments in memory, spatial awareness, and self-perception. Additionally, abnormalities in the precuneus have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia.

Research

Recent research has focused on the role of the precuneus in the default mode network (DMN), a network of brain regions that are active when the brain is at rest and not focused on the external environment. The precuneus is considered a central node in this network, contributing to the brain's baseline activity and internal thought processes.

Related Pages

• Parietal lobe
• Cuneus
• Paracentral lobule
• Cingulate gyrus
• Superior parietal lobule
• Posterior cerebral artery
• Anterior cerebral artery
• Default mode network
• Alzheimer's disease
• Schizophrenia