Open AccessDelineation of somatosensory finger areas using vibrotactile stimulation, an EC oG study
Author(s) -
Wahnoun Rémy,
Benson Michelle,
HelmsTillery Stephen,
Adelson P. David
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 2162-3279
DOI - 10.1002/brb3.369
Subject(s) - ictal , somatosensory system , electrocorticography , stimulation , neuroscience , sensory system , stereoelectroencephalography , sensory stimulation therapy , sensorimotor cortex , psychology , computer science , medicine , electroencephalography
Background In surgical planning for epileptic focus resection, functional mapping of eloquent cortex is attained through direct electrical stimulation of the brain. This procedure is uncomfortable, can trigger seizures or nausea, and relies on subjective evaluation. We hypothesize that a method combining vibrotactile stimulation and statistical clustering may provide improved somatosensory mapping. Methods Seven pediatric candidates for surgical resection underwent a task in which their fingers were independently stimulated using a custom designed finger pad, during electrocorticographic monitoring. A cluster‐based statistical analysis was then performed to localize the elicited activity on the recording grids. Results Mid‐Gamma clusters (65–115 Hz) arose in areas consistent with anatomical predictions as well as clinical findings, with five subjects presenting a somatotopic organization of the fingers. This process allowed us to delineate finger representation even in patients who were sleeping, with strong interictal activity, or when electrical stimulation did not successfully locate eloquent areas. Conclusions We suggest that this scheme, relying on the endogenous neural response rather than exogenous electrical activation, could eventually be extended to map other sensory areas and provide a faster and more objective map to better anticipate outcomes of surgical resection.