How does the parietal cortex help a person track a moving object while reaching for it?

The parietal cortex plays a specialized role in coordinating visual tracking with physical action. While the superior colliculus and other pathways generally enable the eyes and head to follow moving objects, specific neurons within the parietal cortex become active during the integrated act of reaching for an object while tracking it with the hand.1

These parietal neurons exhibit remarkable specificity, reacting when a visual stimulus approaches from the same direction as a stimulus moving on the skin, or during the coordinated process of reaching and tracking. Their activity is highly dependent on the individual's state of vigilance; these neurons remain largely inactive when an individual is inattentive, but they become significantly active when the person is focused on a visual target and must detect its changes to achieve a goal. By integrating these visual and motor signals, the parietal cortex facilitates the precise spatial coordination required to successfully reach for and follow a moving object.1