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Human task-specific somatosensory activation

Cerebral Vascular Disease Research Center, Department of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami; and the Section of Positron Emission Tomography, Department of Radiology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, FL.

We used positron emission tomography to study normal patterns of local cortical metabolic activation induced by somatosensory stimuli. Palpation and sorting of mah-jongg tiles by textured design increased local glucose metabolic rate (ICMRgl), by 18% on average, in contralateral somatosensory cortex. A graphesthesia task gave a similar result. In contrast, vigorous vibrotactile stimulation of fingers, face, or knee did not produce a consistent focus of activation. Our results indicate that ICMRgl activation is best achieved by somatosensory tasks requiring an active perceptual effort.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Ginsberg, Department of Neurology (D4-5). University of Miami, School of Medicine, PO Box 016960, Miami, FL 33101.

Supported by USPHS grants NS21720, NS05820, and NS22603. Dr. Ginsberg is the recipient of a Jacob Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award.

Presented in part at the thirty-eighth annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, New Orleans, LA, April 1986.

Received September 30, 1986. Accepted for publication in final form December 11, 1986.

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