The representation of the plegic hand in the motor cortex: a combined fMRIand TMS study

TMS mapping and fMRI were used to investigate changes in the motor cortex r epresentation of the hand in a patient with complete loss of right hand fun ction following traumatic avulsion of the cervical roots C7 and C8. Both TM S and fMRI demonstrated an expansion of the motor representation of the for earm into the hand area contralateral to the injured side. fMRI of the hand area, however, revealed that this area could still be activated when the p atient was instructed to imagine finger tapping with his plegic hand. These results indicate that the plegic hand is still represented in the motor co rtex, despite the fact that the same cortical area is also now active durin g movements involving forearm muscles. NeuroReport 11:147-150 (C) 2000 Lipp incott Williams & Wilkins.