Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6039590 | NeuroImage | 2008 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
In serial sensory processing, information flows from the thalamus via primary sensory cortices to higher-order association areas. However, association cortices also receive, albeit weak, direct thalamocortical sensory inputs of unknown function. For example, while information proceeds from primary (SI) to secondary (SII) somatosensory cortex in a serial fashion, both areas are known to receive direct thalamocortical sensory input. The present study examines the potential roles of such parallel input arrangements. The subjects were presented with median nerve somatosensory stimuli with the instruction to respond with the contralateral hand. The locations and time courses of the activated brain areas were first identified with magnetoencephalography (MEG). In a subsequent session, these brain areas were modulated with single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at 15-210Â ms after the somatosensory stimulus while electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded. TMS pulses at 15-40Â ms post-stimulus significantly speeded up reaction times and somatosensory-evoked responses, with largest facilitatory effects when the TMS pulse was given to contralateral SII at about 20Â ms. To explain the results, we propose that the early somatosensory-evoked physiological SII activation exerts an SIIâSI influence that facilitates the reciprocal SIâSII pathway - with TMS to SII we apparently amplified this mechanism. The results suggest that the human brain may utilize parallel inputs to facilitate long-distance cortico-cortical connections, resulting in accelerated processing and speeded reaction times. This arrangement could also allow very early top-down modulation of the bottom-up stream of sensory information.
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Authors
Tommi Raij, Jari Karhu, Dubravko KiÄiÄ, Pantelis Lioumis, Petro Julkunen, Fa-Hsuan Lin, Jyrki Ahveninen, Risto J. Ilmoniemi, Jyrki P. Mäkelä, Matti Hämäläinen, Bruce R. Rosen, John W. Belliveau,