title: Functional mapping of the human somatosensory cortex with echo-planar MRI.
abstract: The somatotopical organization of the human somatosensory cortex was analyzed with echo-planar imaging at 1.5 Tesla, utilizing deoxyhemoglobin as an endogenous contrast medium. Scrubbing stimulation at a frequency of 3 Hz was applied to one of three cutaneous areas: toes, fingertips, and tongue tip. Parasagittal echo-planar slices were obtained every 2 s. We found focal bands of increased signal intensity (4% on average) during the stimulation, with a rise time of 2-6 s. These activated bands were located on the contralateral postcentral gyrus. The cortical responses from the three stimulation sites were anatomically distinct and organized medially-to-laterally in the order of toes, fingertips, and tongue tip.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Onodera
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itagaki
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koizumi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyashita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*