Meeting Banner
Abstract #2339

Negative BOLD in Somatosensory Cortex During Simple Finger Tapping

Robert Trampel1, Andreas Schfer1, Laurentius Huber1, Robin Martin Heidemann2, Gabriele Lohmann1, Robert Turner1

1Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; 2Siemens AG Healthcare Sector, Erlangen, Germany

The functional properties of the somatosensory system have been intensively studied by functional MRI over the last decades. Somatosensory cortex clearly discriminates touch of self and other objects: one cannot tickle oneself. Using unsmoothed isotropic sub-millimeter fMRI at 7 Tesla, and a paradigm comprising finger tapping and finger movement without fingertip touching, we found an area of robust deactivation in contralateral Brodmann area 3b, consistent with active suppression of somatosensory activity during the anticipation and experience of self-generated touch.

Keywords

activated activation actual allows anterior anticipated anticipation approval arise array arrow attenuation audience axial axially bank black blood blue body bold border brain carried central certain channel circles classical cognitive coil coincides comparing comprising conditions consent consisted consistent consistently corrected cortex crucially deactivated deactivation decades decreased digit distinction dividing ethical even expected experiment extent externally facilitate fifth finger fingers flow function functional generated greater hand head human identify impossible incoming indicated informed inhibition insights intensively introduced knob lateral leads lies likely local localized location locus maps medial millimeter motor movement movements moving nature negative neural notion novel observations occurs oneself overlaid paradigm part position positioned posterior precisely primary prior produces psychologists question representations representative resolution robin robustly role scanner sciences scientists sector self simple slices smoothing spatial square stimuli stimulus strikingly studied studies subjects suggest supports surrounding system tactile tapping target task tickle tips touch touching turner views whereas whole zoomed