Spatial localization of anterior precuneus for bodily self validated with brain stimulation

The posteromedial cortex (PMC), comprising the precuneus, the posterior cingulate, and the retrosplenial regions, is known to be engaged in various self-referential functions. Recent observations have also suggested a link between PMC dysfunction and self-dissociation. To test the causal relevance of specific PMC locations for self- referential processing, we recruited nine neurosurgical participants with bilaterally implanted PMC electrodes. We applied focal electrical stimulation within discrete PMC sites while probing changes in the participants’ subjective states. We found that, in all nine participants, the electrical perturbation of the anterior precuneus (aPCu), but not the other PMC sites, caused apparent dissociative changes in the physical and spatial bodily domain involving head, trunk, and legs. The responsive aPCu sites did not exhibit event-related activation during a cued autobiographical memory recall task. Furthermore, resting-state functional connectivity with func...后内侧皮层（posteromedial cortex, PMC）由楔前叶、后扣带回及压后皮层区域构成，已知其参与多种自我参照功能。近期研究还提示，PMC功能异常与自我解离存在关联。为验证特定PMC位点对自我参照加工的因果相关性，我们招募了9名双侧植入PMC电极的神经外科受试者。我们在离散的PMC位点内施加局部电刺激，同时监测受试者主观状态的变化。研究结果显示，在全部9名受试者中，仅前楔前叶（anterior precuneus, aPCu）的电刺激扰动，而非其他PMC位点，引发了涉及头部、躯干与四肢的躯体及空间身体领域的明显解离性变化。响应性aPCu位点在线索性自传体记忆回忆任务中未表现出事件相关激活。此外，静息态功能连接与……