Abstract
Background:
Since the work of Penfield & Rasmussen it is well established that the human primary somatosensory cortex is organized somatotopically. However, the order of the representation of the face is still a matter of discussion, i.e., it is yet unclear whether the face is represented upside-down or vice versa in the somatosensory cortex.
Material and Methods:
In a functional magnetic resonance imaging study (n = 30), tactile stimuli to three different locations on each side of the face were applied using a pneumatic device. Locations of stimulation corresponded to the three branches of the trigeminal nerve (forehead, cheek, chin). To determine the representation of the face on primary and secondary somatosensory cortices, peak coordinates within these regions were analyzed subjectwise.
Results:
Contralateral activation of the primary somatosensory cortex following tactile stimulation of the face was found, whereas the secondary somatosensory cortices were activated bilaterally. However, differences between activation coordinates of different tactile stimuli applied to one side of the face were not statistically significant.
Conclusion:
Tactile stimulation of the face leads to contralateral activation of primary and bilateral activation of secondary somatosensory cortices. Using the authors’ methodological approach it was not possible to detect a somatotopic organization related to different facial areas.
Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund:
Seit Penfield & Rasmussen ist bekannt, dass der menschliche primäre somatosensorische Kortex somatotopisch organisiert ist. Die Reihenfolge dieser Repräsentation wird jedoch immer noch diskutiert, d.h., es ist nicht klar, ob das Gesicht in kraniokaudaler oder in kaudokranialer Reihenfolge repräsentiert ist.
Material und Methodik:
Mittels funktioneller Magnetresonanztomographie wurden an 30 Probanden taktile Stimuli an drei verschiedenen Orten auf jeder Seite des Gesichtes mit einem pneumatischen Gerät appliziert (Stirn, Wange, Kinn). Diese Orte korrespondierten mit den drei Ästen des N. trigeminus. Um die Repräsentation des Gesichts in primären und sekundären somatosensorischen Kortizes zu untersuchen, wurden Koordinaten lokaler Maxima probandenweise innerhalb dieser Regionen bestimmt.
Ergebnisse:
Es konnte eine kontralaterale Aktivierung des primären somatosensorischen Kortex bei taktiler Stimulation des Gesichts festgestellt werden. Der sekundäre somatosensorische Kortex war bilateral aktiviert. Die Unterschiede in den Aktivierungskoordinaten der verschiedenen taktilen Stimuli auf einer Seite des Gesichts waren jedoch nicht signifikant.
Schlussfolgerung:
Taktile Stimulation des Gesichts führt zu einer kontralateralen Aktivierung des primären und bilateralen Aktivierung des sekundären somatosensorischen Kortex. Mit der verwendeten Methodik konnte eine somatotopische Auflösung verschiedener Gesichtsareale nicht erreicht werden.
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Kopietz, R., Sakar, V., Albrecht, J. et al. Activation of Primary and Secondary Somatosensory Regions Following Tactile Stimulation of the Face. Clin Neuroradiol 19, 135–144 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-009-8022-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00062-009-8022-3