fMRI evidence for an inverted face representation in human somatosensory cortex

WE provide evidence that the face component of the somatosensory homunculus is actually upside down rather than right-side up along the central sulcus of the human brain. We pneumatically stimulated the forehead or chin of ne urologically intact humans while acquiring fMRI images of somatosensory cor tex. During forehead stimulation cortical regions along relatively inferior portions of the postcentral gyrus were most active whereas during chin sti mulation relatively superior regions were most active. These data are consi stent with an inverted face representation along the central sulcus of the human brain. NeuroReport 10:1393-1395 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkin s.