EXTENSIVE REORGANIZATION OF THE SOMATOSENSORY CORTEX IN ADULT HUMANS AFTER NERVOUS-SYSTEM INJURY

MAGNETIC source imaging revealed that the topographic representation i n the somatosensory cortex of the face area in upper extremity amputee s was shifted an average of 1.5 cm toward the area that would normally receive input from the now absent nerves supplying the hand and finge rs. Observed alterations provide evidence for extensive plastic reorga nization in the adult human cortex following nervous system injury, bu t they are not a sufficient cause of the phantom phenomenon termed 'fa cial remapping'.