title: Whole-hand sensorimotor area: cortical stimulation localization and correlation with functional magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pli de passage moyen (PPM) is an omega-shaped cortical landmark bulging into the central sulcus. There has been considerable interest in the PPM given that hand motor and sensory tasks have been found on functional magnetic resonance (fMR) imaging to activate the structure. Note, however, that the cortical function subserved by the PPM is not completely understood. Finger and thumb function are somatotopically organized over the central area and encompass a larger cortical surface than the anatomical PPM. Therefore, a sensory or motor hand area within the PPM would be redundant with the somatotopically organized digit function in the primary sensorimotor cortex. In this study the authors aimed to clarify the function subserved by the PPM and further evaluate hand area function in the primary sensorimotor cortex.
  
  
  METHODS
  To further elucidate the function subserved by the PPM, patients underwent cortical stimulation in the region of the PPM as well as fMR imaging-demonstrated activation of the hand area. Two separate analytical methods were used to correlate hand area functional imaging with whole-hand sensory and motor responses induced by cortical stimulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A relationship of the anatomical PPM with cortical stimulation responses as well as hand fMR imaging activation was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A strong relationship was identified between the PPM, whole-hand sensory and motor stimulation responses, and fMR imaging hand activation. Whole-hand motor and whole-hand sensory cortical regions were identified in the primary sensorimotor cortex. It was localized to the PPM and exists in addition to the somatotopically organized finger and thumb sensory and motor areas.
authors.affiliation: Center for Advanced Imaging, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506-9183, USA. wboling@hsc.wvu.edu
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boling
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kraszpulski
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantrell
authors.forename: Aina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puce
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003463:Cues; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*