Psychogenic sensory loss: magnetic source imaging reveals normal tactile evoked activity of the human primary and secondary somatosensory cortex.
We investigated the activation of the secondary somatosensory cortex (SII) in three patients with unilateral psychogenic sensory loss in the hand. Somatosensory evoked magnetic fields were recorded in response to tactile stimulation of the index finger of the affected and the unaffected hand. Brain sources were estimated by magnetic source imaging. In all subjects, responses in both the contralateral primary somatosensory (SI) and bilateral SII areas were normal as compared with a healthy control group, irrespective of the stimulated side. The results extend previous findings of normal evoked activity in SI.
Hoechstetter
Karsten
K
Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Meinck
Hans-Michael
HM
Henningsen
Peter
P
Scherg
Michael
M
Rupp
André
A
D000328:Adult; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015225:Magnetoencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*