Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Exploring Deep Space - Uncovering the Anatomy of Periventricular Structures to Reveal the Lateral Ventricles of the Human Brain
Published on: October 22, 2017
Somatotopic organization of the human periventricular gray matter
Richard G Bittar1, Dipankar Nandi, Helen Carter
1Department of Neurosurgery, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK. neurosurgeon@ampsclinic.com
Abstract:
The periventricular gray (PVG) matter is an established anatomical target for chronic deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of certain intractable pain syndromes. Data relating to the representation of pain and other somatosensory modalities within the PVG in humans are negligible. We examined the character and location of somatosensory responses elicited by electrical stimulation along the length of the PVG in a patient who underwent unilateral DBS for intractable nociceptive head pain. Consistent responses were obtained and indicated the presence of a somatotopic representation in this region. The contralateral lower limb was represented cranially, followed by the upper limb and trunk, with the face area located caudally, near the level of the superior colliculi. Bilateral representation was only observed in the forehead and scalp.
Related Concept Videos
Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
Cerebrum: Anatomical Overview II
Cerebellum: Anatomical Regions
Cerebellar Structure
Externally, the cerebellum features a highly convoluted surface with numerous folia (narrow ridges) separated by shallow sulci (grooves). The cerebellum is divided into two hemispheres by a thin median structure known as the vermis. The...
Anatomy of the Brain: Major Regions
The cerebrum is the largest section of the brain and divides into left and right hemispheres, separated by a deep fissure. The cerebral outer layer of grey matter — the cerebral cortex — comprises elevations called gyri and shallow groves called sulci. The inner portion of white matter includes long nerve fibers known as axons, which connect various areas...
Diencephalon: Hypothalamus and Coordination
The hypothalamus interacts with other brain regions, including the pituitary gland, through a direct physical connection called the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hypothalamus receives somatic and visceral inputs and...
Anatomy of the Brain: Ventricles

