Functional representation of the finger and face in the human somatosensory cortex: intraoperative intrinsic optical imaging.
We applied the intrinsic optical imaging technique to the human primary somatosensory cortex during brain tumor/epilepsy surgery for nine patients. The cortical surface was illuminated with a Xenon light through an operating microscope, and the reflected light, which passed through a 605 nm bandpass filter, was detected by a CCD camera-based optical imaging system. Individual electrical stimulation of five digits induced changes in the reflected light intensities. Visualizing the intrinsic optical responses, we constructed maps of finger representation in Brodmann's area 1. In the maps, response areas of Digits I to V were sequentially aligned along the central sulcus in the crown of the postcentral gyrus from the latero-inferior region (Digit I) to the medio-superior region (Digit V). The neighboring response areas partially overlapped each other, as previously described in the monkey somatosensory cortex. Similar results were obtained in the face region with stimulation of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve. These results suggest that the overlap of the response areas is a common feature in the somatosensory cortex not only in monkeys, but also in humans.
Sato
Katsushige
K
Department of Physiology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School and Faculty of Medicine, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan. katsushige.phy2@tmd.ac.jp
Nariai
Tadashi
T
Tanaka
Yoji
Y
Maehara
Taketoshi
T
Miyakawa
Naohisa
N
Sasaki
Shinichi
S
Momose-Sato
Yoko
Y
Ohno
Kikuo
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005145:Face / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000502:physiology