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Activation of human mesial cortex during somatosensory target detection task
Brain Research
|September 23, 1996
Summary
Attention enhances somatosensory evoked fields (SEFs) in the brain's paracentral lobule. This novel response, observed in healthy subjects, highlights attention's role in sensory processing.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Somatosensory System
Background:
- Somatosensory evoked fields (SEFs) reflect the brain's response to tactile stimuli.
- Previous studies identified SEF activation in the SI, SII cortices, and posterior parietal cortex (PPC).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of attention on SEFs.
- To identify novel brain regions involved in somatosensory processing under attentional load.
Main Methods:
- Recorded SEFs from 10 healthy subjects using median and ulnar nerve stimulation.
- Subjects performed two tasks: counting stimuli (attentive) or reading (distracted).
Main Results:
- Both attentive and distracted states activated the contralateral SI cortex, bilateral SII cortices, and PPC.
- A novel attention-enhanced response was observed between 120-160 ms in the mesial paracentral lobule cortex.
Conclusions:
- Attention significantly modulates somatosensory processing.
- The mesial paracentral lobule is a newly identified region involved in attention-modulated somatosensory processing.