Organization of the human motor system as studied by functional magnetic resonance imaging

Blood oxygenation level dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BO LD fMRI), because of its superior resolution and unlimited repeatability, c an be particularly useful in studying functional aspects of the human motor system, especially plasticity, and somatotopic and temporal organization. In this survey, while describing studies that have reliably used BOLD fMRI to examine these aspects of the motor system, we also discuss studies that investigate the neural substrates underlying motor skill acquisition, motor imagery, production of motor sequences; effect of rate and force of moveme nt on brain activation and hemispheric control of motor function. In the cl inical realm, in addition to the presurgical evaluation of neurosurgical pa tients, BOLD fMRI has been used to explore the mechanisms underlying motor abnormalities in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders and the mechanism s underlying reorganization or plasticity of the motor system following a c erebral insult. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rig hts reserved.