title: Cortical reorganization of hand motor function to primary sensory cortex in hemiparetic patients with a primary motor cortex infarct.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To show cortical reorganization in hemiparetic patients with a primary motor cortex (M1) infarct including the precentral knob by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient clinics in the rehabilitation department of a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two stroke patients and 20 control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  By using fMRI, we evaluated the hand motor function of 2 hemiparetic stroke patients, who had made some recovery from complete paralysis of the affected hand, and 20 control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  fMRI was performed by using the blood oxygen level-dependent technique at 1.5 T with a standard head coil. The motor task paradigm consisted of hand grasp-release movements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The contralateral primary sensorimotor cortex was activated by the hand movements of the control subjects and of the unaffected side of the 2 patients. Only the contralateral (infarct side) primary sensory cortex (S1) was activated by the movements of the affected hand of the 2 patients, a result that was not observed in the control subjects or with the unaffected hand in the stroke patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hand motor function associated with the infarcted M1 in our patients was reorganized into the S1. These results suggest cortical reorganization in patients with an M1 infarct.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Yeungnam University School of Medicine, Taegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Sang Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Dong Suk
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Dong Kyu
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Kyu
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soo Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Son
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009048:Motor Skills; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020127:Recovery of Function