Alteration of digital representations in somatosensory cortex in focal hand dystonia.
Focal hand dystonia involves a loss of motor control of one or more digits; it is associated with the repetitive, synchronous movements of the digits made by musicians over periods of many years. Magnetic source imaging revealed that there is a smaller distance (fusion) between the representations of the digits in somatosensory cortex for the affected hand of dystonic musicians than for the hands of non-musician control subjects. The data suggest that use-dependent susceptibility to digital representation fusion in cortex may be involved in the etiology of focal dystonia. A successful therapy for the condition has been developed based on this consideration.
Elbert
T
T
Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Germany.
Candia
V
V
Altenmüller
E
E
Rau
H
H
Sterr
A
A
Rockstroh
B
B
Pantev
C
C
Taub
E
E
D000328:Adult; D004421:Dystonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology*; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000503:physiopathology*