Abstract:

Recent efforts have been made to understand how information processing in a particular brain region influences the processing occurring in other (distant) regions. Here, we focused on the neural processing of hands and tools, since both categories activate two main neural regions in common (Inferior Parietal Lobe – IPL and Lateral Occipital Temporal Cortex – LOTC). Our goal was to determine if there are different patterns of functional connectivity emerging from the two overlap areas depending on whether we are measuring processing of hands or tools. To do this, we used a multivariate approach to examine how multivoxel patterns are changed by the functional connectivity established between the overlap areas and the rest of the brain. We demonstrated that hands and tools are represented differently in both IPL and LOTC, exhibiting different patterns of functional connectivity (e.g.: processing of hands is more related to lateral aspects of the Fusiform Gyrus and the processing of tools is more related to medial aspects). In conclusion, although IPL and LOTC are overlap areas, it is possible to disentangle the processing of hands and tools.