title: A magnetoencephalographic study on development of the somatosensory cortex in infants.
abstract: In order to examine the sensori-motor correlation in infants, we recorded the somatosensory evoked magnetic fields to tactile stimulation by using a 37-channel magnetoencephalograph. Twelve healthy infants were examined at palmar grasp stage and pincers grasp stage. Air-tapping stimulation of the right thumb was performed. Three distinct components (W1-3) emerged, W3, with a latency of approximately 100 ms, being the most prominent. As infants grew up, the correlation coefficient and the amplitude of the equivalent current dipole of W3 for the thumb increased. These developmental changes may be attributable to increases in the stability and reproducibility of the cortex in response to somesthetic inputs. Moreover, this change along with motor development supports the presence of a sensori-motor correlation in infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gondo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tobimatsu
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kira
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hara
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015225:Magnetoencephalography; D008297:Male; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*