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Possible use-dependent changes in adult primate somatosensory cortex
1Department of Psychology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
Brain Research
|July 17, 1995
Summary
Adult primate somatosensory cortex maps change with experience. Unique hand paralysis in a monkey led to unusual receptive fields, supporting the idea that correlated nerve activation shapes brain maps.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Somatosensory System
- Cortical Plasticity
Background:
- Adult primate somatosensory cortical maps exhibit plasticity.
- Changes in sensory experience can alter these maps.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate somatosensory cortical map changes in a primate with a chronic paralytic hand condition.
- To test the hypothesis that correlated peripheral afferent activation shapes cortical receptive fields.
Main Methods:
- Cortical mapping of area 3b in a monkey with a chronic paralytic hand condition.
- Analysis of receptive field topography and its relation to skin surface stimulation patterns.
Main Results:
- Observed highly unusual, isolated receptive fields across the mediolateral extent of cortical area 3b.
- The observed topography was consistent with the hypothesis of experience-driven map formation.
Conclusions:
- Correlated activation of peripheral afferents is a key mechanism in shaping somatosensory cortical receptive fields.
- This study provides evidence for experience-dependent plasticity in the adult primate somatosensory cortex.