Functional magnetic resonance imaging can be used to explore tactile and nociceptive processing in the infant brain.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

Despite the importance of neonatal skin stimulation, little is known about activation of the newborn human infant brain by sensory stimulation of the skin. We carried out functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess the feasibility of measuring brain activation to a range of mechanical stimuli applied to the skin of neonatal infants.

Methods

We studied 19 term infants with a mean age of 13 days. Brain activation was measured in response to brushing, von Frey hair (vFh) punctate stimulation and, in one case, nontissue damaging pinprick stimulation of the plantar surface of the foot. Initial whole brain analysis was followed by region of interest analysis of specific brain areas.

Results

Distinct patterns of functional brain activation were evoked by brush

SUBMITTER: Williams G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4463763 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature