title: Asymptomatic motor cortex displacement due to a giant arachnoid cyst.
abstract: Cerebral lesions are held to induce plastic changes of the brain. Less well established, however, is how much space-occupying brain lesions may only displace functional representations. In a 66-year-old man we show, by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation, a profound displacement of the motor cortex due to a large asymptomatic arachnoid cyst. Thus, the chronically compressed brain is capable of sustaining normal brain function without utilizing the potential of cortical plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany. nickel@mantelkante.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jörgens
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bussfeld
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Seitz
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000368:Aged; D016080:Arachnoid Cysts / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation