title: Auditory stimuli from a sensor glove model modulate cortical audiotactile integration.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to shed light on cortical audiotactile integration and sensory substitution mechanisms, thought to serve as a basis for the use of a sensor glove in the preservation of the cortical map of the hand after peripheral nerve injuries. Fourteen subjects were selected and randomly assigned either to a training group, trained to replace touch for hearing with the use of a sensor glove, or to a control group, untrained. Training group volunteers had to identify textures just by the sound. In an fMRI experiment, all subjects received three types of stimuli: tactile only, combined audiotactile stimulation, and auditory only. Results indicate that, for trained subjects, a coupling between auditory and somatosensory cortical areas is established through associative areas. Differences in signal correlation between groups point to a pairing mechanism, which, at first, connects functionally the primary auditory and sensory areas (trained subjects). Later, this connection seems to be mediated by associative areas. The training with the sensor glove influences cortical audiotactile integration mechanisms, determining BOLD signal changes in the somatosensory area during auditory stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil. raquelmetzker@bol.com.br
authors.forename: Raquel Metzker
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.forename: Rafael Inácio
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Carlos Ernesto Garrido
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Salmón
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rondinoni
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Escorsi-Rosset
authors.forename: Juliana Carla
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Delsim
authors.forename: Cláudio Henrique
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Nilton
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mazzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D056228:Feedback, Sensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*; D014159:Transducers
keywords: Acoustic stimulation; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Hand; Rehabilitation; Sensory deprivation