Perceptually relevant remapping of human somatotopy in 24 hours.

Kolasinski J
Makin TR
Logan JP
Jbabdi S
Clare S
Johansen-Berg H

Scientific Abstract

Experience-dependent reorganisation of functional maps in the cerebral cortex is well described in the primary sensory cortices. However, there is relatively little evidence for such cortical reorganisation over the short-term. Using human somatosensory cortex as a model, we investigated the effects of a 24 hr gluing manipulation in which the right index and right middle fingers (digits 2 and 3) were adjoined with surgical glue. Somatotopic representations, assessed with two 7 tesla fMRI protocols, revealed rapid off-target reorganisation in the non-manipulated fingers following gluing, with the representation of the ring finger (digit 4) shifted towards the little finger (digit 5) and away from the middle finger (digit 3). These shifts were also evident in two behavioural tasks conducted in an independent cohort, showing reduced sensitivity for discriminating the temporal order of stimuli to the ring and little fingers, and increased substitution errors across this pair on a speeded reaction time task.

Similar content

Preprint
Gann MA, Paparella IA, Zich C, Grigoras IF, Huertas-Penen S, Rieger SW, Thielscher A, Sharott A, Stagg CJ, Schwab BC

Dual-site beta transcranial alternating current stimulation during a bimanual coordination task modulates functional connectivity between motor areas

Perceptually relevant remapping of human somatotopy in 24 hours.

Kolasinski J
Makin TR
Logan JP
Jbabdi S
Clare S
Johansen-Berg H

Scientific Abstract

Experience-dependent reorganisation of functional maps in the cerebral cortex is well described in the primary sensory cortices. However, there is relatively little evidence for such cortical reorganisation over the short-term. Using human somatosensory cortex as a model, we investigated the effects of a 24 hr gluing manipulation in which the right index and right middle fingers (digits 2 and 3) were adjoined with surgical glue. Somatotopic representations, assessed with two 7 tesla fMRI protocols, revealed rapid off-target reorganisation in the non-manipulated fingers following gluing, with the representation of the ring finger (digit 4) shifted towards the little finger (digit 5) and away from the middle finger (digit 3). These shifts were also evident in two behavioural tasks conducted in an independent cohort, showing reduced sensitivity for discriminating the temporal order of stimuli to the ring and little fingers, and increased substitution errors across this pair on a speeded reaction time task.

Citation

2016. eLife, 5:e17280

DOI

10.7554/eLife.17280

Free Full Text at Europe PMC

PMC5241114

Downloads

View PDF (2MB)

Similar content

Preprint
Gann MA, Paparella IA, Zich C, Grigoras IF, Huertas-Penen S, Rieger SW, Thielscher A, Sharott A, Stagg CJ, Schwab BC

Dual-site beta transcranial alternating current stimulation during a bimanual coordination task modulates functional connectivity between motor areas