Functional asymmetry between the left and right human fusiform gyrus explored through electrical brain stimulation.
The ventral temporal cortex (VTC) contains several areas with selective responses to words, numbers, faces, and objects as demonstrated by numerous human and primate imaging and electrophysiological studies. Our recent work using electrocorticography (ECoG) confirmed the presence of face-selective neuronal populations in the human fusiform gyrus (FG) in patients implanted with intracranial electrodes in either the left or right hemisphere. Electrical brain stimulation (EBS) disrupted the conscious perception of faces only when it was delivered in the right, but not left, FG. In contrast to our previous findings, here we report both negative and positive EBS effects in right and left FG, respectively. The presence of right hemisphere language dominance in the first, and strong left-handedness and poor language processing performance in the second case, provide indirect clues about the functional architecture of the human VTC in relation to hemispheric asymmetries in language processing and handedness.
Laboratory of Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience, Stanford Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program (SHICEP), Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
Vinitha
V
Rangarajan
Laboratory of Behavioral & Cognitive Neuroscience, Stanford Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program (SHICEP), Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. Electronic address: jparvizi@stanford.edu.
Josef
J
Parvizi
D001931:Brain Mapping; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D000069280:Electrocorticography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*
D010100:Oxygen
Asymmetry; Electrical brain stimulation; Electrocorticography; Face perception; Fusiform face area; Lateralization