Somatotopic mapping of the human primary somatosensory cortex by fully automated tactile stimulation using functional magnetic resonance imaging

The clinical application of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRl) re quires time-saving protocols insensitive to artifacts that provide robust l ocalization and important information on brain function. A fully automated, pneumatically driven tactile stimulation is presented, that reproducibly l ocalizes postcentral lip, finger and toe representations in contralateral p rimary somatosensory cortex (SI) with mean correlation coefficients (cc) an d relative BOLD signal changes (dS) of cc similar to 0.59, dS similar to 1. 95% (fingers); cc similar to 0.52, dS similar to 1.35% (lips); cc similar t o 0.47, dS similar to 1.42% (toes). Bilateral somatotopic mapping requires 21 min of scanning time and has become a clinical routine fMRI application in patients with perirolandic tumors. Normative data may also be useful in monitoring cerebral plasticity and reorganization, e.g. in sensorimotor rec overy after cerebral ischemia or in understanding mechanisms of supraspinal pain processing. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserve d.