Open AccessReduced functional connectivity of somatosensory network in writer's cramp patients
Author(s) -
Cheng ChiaHsiung,
Tseng YiJhan,
Chen RouShayn,
Lin YungYang
Publication year - 2016
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/brb3.433
Subject(s) - somatosensory system , magnetoencephalography , somatosensory evoked potential , neuroscience , stimulation , psychology , medicine , electroencephalography
Background The involvement of motor cortex and sensorimotor integration in patients with writer's cramp ( WC ) has been well documented. However, the exact neurophysiological profile within the somatosensory system, including primary somatosensory cortex ( SI ), contralateral ( SII c), and ipsilateral ( SII i) secondary somatosensory areas remains less understood. Methods This study investigated the neuromagnetic cortical activities of median nerve stimulation in 10 patients with WC and 10 healthy controls ( HC ). To comprehensively explore all the aspects of somatosensory functioning, we analyzed our data with the minimum norm estimate ( MNE ), the time‐frequency approach with evoked and induced activities, and functional connectivity between SI and SII c ( SI – SII c), SI and SII i ( SI – SII i), and SII c and SII i ( SII c– SII i) from theta to gamma oscillations. Results No significant between‐group differences were found in the MNE cortical amplitudes of SI , SII c, and SII i. Power strengths of evoked gamma oscillation and induced beta synchronization were also equivalent between WC and HC groups. However, we found significantly reduced theta coherence of SI – SII i, alpha coherence of SI – SII i and SII c– SII i, as well as beta coherence of SII c– SII i in patients with WC . Conclusion Our results suggest the involvement of somatosensory abnormalities, primarily with the form of functional connectivity, in patients with WC .