The functional architecture of S1 during touch observation described with 7 T fMRI.

ABSTRACT: Recent studies indicate that the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) is active not only when touch is physically perceived but also when it is merely observed to be experienced by another person. This social responsivity of S1 has important implications for our understanding of S1 functioning. However, S1 activity during touch observation has not been characterized in great detail to date. We focused on two features of the S1 functional architecture during touch observation, namely the topographical arrangement of index and middle finger receptive fields (RFs), and their dynamic shrinkage during concurrent activation. Both features have important implications for human behavior. We conducted two fMRI studies at 7 T, one where touch was physically perceived, and one where touch was observed.

SUBMITTER: Kuehn E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3889700 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature