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Non-Invasive Modulation and Robotic Mapping of Motor Cortex in the Developing Brain
Published on: July 1, 2019
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Somatotopic Mapping of the Developing Sensorimotor Cortex in the Preterm Human Brain.
S Dall'Orso1,2, J Steinweg2, A G Allievi1
1Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|June 15, 2018
Summary
The brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Pediatric Neurology
Background:
- The mature mammalian brain exhibits somatotopic organization in primary sensorimotor cortices, forming a body representation crucial for motor control and sensory processing.
- This somatotopic mapping, known as the 'homunculus', is fundamental for precise motor control, spatial awareness, and social interaction.
- While established in adults, the developmental timeline of this organization in humans, particularly its emergence before birth, remains largely unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the somatotopic organization of primary sensorimotor cortices in preterm infants.
- To determine if the characteristic 'homunculus' map is present in early human brain development.
- To explore the implications of early somatotopic organization for understanding the impact of preterm brain injury.
Main Methods:
- Utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 35 healthy preterm infants (31 + 6 to 36 + 3 weeks postmenstrual age).
- Employed custom-made robotic tools to deliver precise somatosensory stimulation to the wrists, ankles, and mouth.
- Analyzed functional brain responses to map somatotopic organization within the sensorimotor cortices.
Main Results:
- Identified a distinct spatial organization of functional responses in preterm infants, mirroring the mature 'homunculus' map.
- Observed significantly larger and more widespread activation for wrist stimulation compared to ankle stimulation, involving supplementary motor areas and ipsilateral cortex.
- Demonstrated that somatotopic organization is established early in human brain development, even before full term.
Conclusions:
- The primary sensorimotor cortices exhibit intrinsic somatotopic organization early in human development, prior to term birth.
- This early organization may explain the limited capacity for cortical reorganization following preterm brain injury in these regions.
- Findings suggest that early-acquired brain injury in preterm infants can lead to persistent motor and sensory impairments due to the fixed nature of early somatotopic maps.
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