Final answer:
Prefrontal 'top-down' influences describe the control the prefrontal cortex has over the parietal cortex during tasks like oculomotor delayed response tasks, involving goal-directed eye movements. This demonstrates the integration of sensory and motor functions, and cognitive processes such as working memory, all of which are critical for planning movement based on visual inputs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of prefrontal 'top-down' influences refers to the way in which the prefrontal cortex exerts control over other brain regions, including the parietal cortex, especially during tasks requiring attention and planning, such as an oculomotor delayed response task. The prefrontal cortex is involved in higher cognitive functions such as working memory, abstract reasoning, and the inhibition of distracting thoughts, which are essential for achieving goal-directed behaviors. These cognitive processes enable the prefrontal cortex to plan and execute movements based on sensory input received via the visual pathways.
The parietal cortex, interacting with the dorsal visual stream, aids in spatial orientation and movement planning in relation to visual information. During an oculomotor delayed response task, the prefrontal cortex uses its 'top-down' influence to maintain visual information in working memory, guiding the eye movements towards a remembered target location. This interaction exemplifies how sensory and motor functions are integrated within the brain for coordinated action.
Moreover, studies utilizing techniques such as PET scans show how different cognitive tasks involve distinct regions of the prefrontal cortex. These findings emphasize the importance of prefrontal regions in processing and retaining information, and how they guide the motor responses generated in other cortical areas like the parietal lobe. Furthermore, the role of the frontal eye field is to connect the necessary motor commands to orient the eyes toward objects of visual attention, highlighting the interconnected nature of sensory input and motor output pathways in the brain.