Ear movement induced by electrical cortical stimulation.
Cortical areas that control ear movement have not been reported in humans. We describe a rare case in which ear auricle movement was induced by extraoperative electrical cortical stimulation. A 21-year-old man with intractable localization-related epilepsy was admitted for presurgical evaluation. Subdural electrodes were implanted over the right temporal and frontal regions. Tonic upward contraction of the left ear auricle was elicited by stimulating the subdural electrode on the posterior portion of the right superior temporal gyrus close to the end of the Sylvian fissure. No other body movements or auditory symptoms were elicited. A possible mechanism underlying this rare phenomenon is discussed.
Yu
Lu
L
Department of Neurology, National Epilepsy Center, Shizuoka Institute of Epilepsy and Neurological Disorders, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka, Japan.
Terada
Kiyohito
K
Usui
Naotaka
N
Usui
Keiko
K
Baba
Koichi
K
Inoue
Yushi
Y
D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult