title: Enhancing sensorimotor activity by controlling virtual objects with gaze.
abstract: This fMRI work studies brain activity of healthy volunteers who manipulated a virtual object in the context of a digital game by applying two different control methods: using their right hand or using their gaze. The results show extended activations in sensorimotor areas, not only when participants played in the traditional way (using their hand) but also when they used their gaze to control the virtual object. Furthermore, with the exception of the primary motor cortex, regional motor activity was similar regardless of what the effector was: the arm or the eye. These results have a potential application in the field of the neurorehabilitation as a new approach to generate activation of the sensorimotor system to support the recovery of the motor functions.
authors: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Cristián
authors: C
authors: Modroño
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of the Canary Islands, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Julio
authors: J
authors: Plata-Bello
authors: Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, United Kingdomm.
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Zelaya
authors: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Sofía
authors: S
authors: García
authors: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Iván
authors: I
authors: Galván
authors: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Marcano
authors: Laboratory of Cognitive and Social Neuroscience (LaNCyS), UDP-INECO Foundation Core on Neuroscience (UIFCoN), Diego Portales University, Santiago de Chile, Chile.
authors: Gorka
authors: G
authors: Navarrete
authors: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Óscar
authors: Ó
authors: Casanova
authors: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Mas
authors: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors: José Luis
authors: JL
authors: González-Mora
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005121:Extremities / Q000502:physiology; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D000066530:Neurological Rehabilitation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D066191:Sensorimotor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D014584:User-Computer Interface