title: Cortical remapping in amputees and dysmelic patients: a functional MRI study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate motor cortex function in upper and lower limb amputees and dysmelic patients using fMRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five amputees and two dysmelic patients were examined. Motor and imagery tasks were defined according to each patient limb deficiency. Cortical activation patterns were analysed for each patient and compared between groups, integrating patients clinical data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is a consistent pattern of cortical reorganization in all amputees: predominance of activation in the ipsilateral motor cortex and extension to premotor and sensory areas of the contralateral cortex. On the contrary, cortical maps of dysmelic patients were similar to those of healthy volunteers, predominantly with activation of contralateral primary motor cortex areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  fMRI discloses specific patterns of cortical reorganization on amputees and dysmelic patients, suggesting influence by prosthesis adaptation or stump use with dexterity. These findings could be further applied in influencing neurorehabilitation and development of prosthetic devices.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Hospital de S. Sebastião, R. Dr Cândido de Pinho, 4520-211 Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal. vcruz@hospitalfeira.min-saude.pt
authors.forename: Vitor Tedim
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Belina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Ana Mafalda
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Jorge Resende
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D038061:Lower Extremity Deformities, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D038062:Upper Extremity Deformities, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology*