TMS in the parietal cortex: updating representations for attention and action.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is one of the most recent techniques to have been used in investigations of the parietal cortex but already a number of studies have employed it as a tool in investigations of attentional and sensorimotor processes in the human parietal cortices. The high temporal resolution of TMS has proved to be a particular strength of the technique and the experiments have led to hypotheses about when circumscribed regions of parietal cortex are critical for specific attentional and sensorimotor processes. A consistent theme that runs through many reports is that of a critical contribution of parietal areas when attention or movements are re-directed and representations for attention or action must be updated.