title: Human task-specific somatosensory activation.
abstract: We used positron emission tomography to study normal patterns of local cortical metabolic activation induced by somatosensory stimuli. Palpation and sorting of mah-jongg tiles by textured design increased local glucose metabolic rate (lCMRgl), by 18% on average, in contralateral somatosensory cortex. A graphesthesia task gave a similar result. In contrast, vigorous vibrotactile stimulation of fingers, face, or knee did not produce a consistent focus of activation. Our results indicate that lCMRgl activation is best achieved by somatosensory tasks requiring an active perceptual effort.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D014732:Vibration
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D005947:Glucose