[Participation of the secondary motor area of the frontal lobe of the brain in organizing postural components of human voluntary movement]

Abstract

Synergies of the orthograde posture associated with voluntary movements (deep respiration or fast arm elevation) were studied in 225 patients with local verified brain lesions. Postural adjustments associated with deep respiratory movements were disturbed in patients with lesions of mainly posterior part of the inferior convolution of the frontal lobe. Postural adjustments associated with arm elevation were disturbed in patients with lesions of mainly the posterior part of the superior frontal convolution corresponding to the supplementary motor area. It is concluded that postural components of different voluntary movements requiring learning are controlled by different secondary motor areas.