title: Temporal window of integration in the somatosensory modality: an MEG study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to clarify the presence of a temporal window of integration (TWI) in the somatosensory modality by manipulating the inter-stimulus interval (ISI).
  
  
  METHODS
  We recorded cortical activity following the last of a train of electric pulses (stimulus offset) applied to the left hand in nine healthy volunteers using magnetoencephalography (MEG). Somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs) were elicited by the offset of a train of pulses 3s in total duration with four ISIs (25, 50, 75, and 100 ms).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results show that (i) off-M100 was clearly elicited by the ISI-25 and 50 ms conditions but not ISI-75 and 100 ms conditions, and (ii) the generator for off-M100 was mainly located in the contralateral primary and secondary somatosensory cortex (SI and SII).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The upper limit of the TWI in the somatosensory modality is between 50 and 75 ms, and the contralateral SI and SII play an important role in integrating temporal information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study clarifies the presence of the TWI in the somatosensory modality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Sports, Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Niigata 950-3198, Japan. yamashiro@nuhw.ac.jp
authors.forename: Koya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamashiro
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inui
authors.forename: Naofumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Otsuru
authors.forename: Tomokazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Urakawa
authors.forename: Ryusuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kakigi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015225:Magnetoencephalography / Q000379:methods*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D018511:Systems Integration; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology*