Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026

11:31
Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy of the Sensory and Motor Brain Regions with Simultaneous Kinematic and EMG Monitoring During Motor Tasks
Published on: December 5, 2014
Mapping sensorimotor cortex with slow cortical potential resting-state networks while awake and under anesthesia.
Jonathan D Breshears1, Charles M Gaona, Jarod L Roland
1Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA.
Neurosurgery
|April 21, 2012
Summary
Resting-state slow cortical potential networks can identify sensorimotor cortex in epilepsy patients, even under anesthesia. This brain mapping technique shows promise for surgical planning and identifying eloquent brain regions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Brain Mapping
- Epilepsy Research
Background:
- Resting-state cortical networks are key to brain organization, identified via fMRI and local field potentials.
- These networks are independent of task activation, suggesting clinical brain mapping potential.
- Slow cortical potential networks offer a novel approach to understanding brain architecture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of resting-state slow cortical potential networks for identifying eloquent cortex, specifically sensorimotor cortex.
- To assess network identification in patients both awake and under anesthesia.
- To compare network identification with electrocortical stimulation as a gold standard.
Main Methods:
- Recorded slow cortical potentials from 9 epilepsy patients undergoing surgery, both awake and under propofol anesthesia.
- Utilized data-driven (seed-independent) and anatomy-driven (seed-based) approaches to identify slow cortical potential networks.
- Calculated sensitivity and specificity against electrocortical stimulation for sensorimotor cortex mapping.
Main Results:
- Data-driven network identification showed 90-93% sensitivity and 55-58% specificity for sensorimotor cortex.
- Seed-based network identification yielded 78-83% sensitivity and 60-67% specificity.
- Both awake and anesthetized states allowed for effective network identification.
Conclusions:
- Resting-state networks show potential for improving intraoperative brain mapping.
- These networks can aid in identifying eloquent brain regions, including sensorimotor cortex, in patients under anesthesia.
- This method may help tailor surgical stimulation mapping for epilepsy patients.

