The organizational principles of de-differentiated topographic maps in somatosensory cortex.

ABSTRACT: Topographic maps are a fundamental feature of cortex architecture in the mammalian brain. One common theory is that the de-differentiation of topographic maps links to impairments in everyday behavior due to less precise functional map readouts. Here, we tested this theory by characterizing de-differentiated topographic maps in primary somatosensory cortex (SI) of younger and older adults by means of ultra-high resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging together with perceptual finger individuation and hand motor performance. Older adults' SI maps showed similar amplitude and size to younger adults' maps, but presented with less representational similarity between distant fingers. Larger population receptive field sizes in older adults' maps did not correlate with behavior, whereas r

SUBMITTER: Liu P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8186903 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature