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Integrated approach for studying adaptation mechanisms in the human somatosensory cortical network

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Abstract

Magnetoencephalography and independent component analysis (ICA) was utilized to study and characterize neural adaptation in the somatosensory cortical network. Repetitive punctate tactile stimuli were applied unilaterally to the dominant hand and face using a custom-built pneumatic stimulator called the TAC-Cell. ICA-based source estimation from the evoked neuromagnetic responses indicated cortical activity in the contralateral primary somatosensory cortex (SI) for face stimulation, while hand stimulation resulted in robust contralateral SI and posterior parietal cortex (PPC) activation. Activity was also observed in the secondary somatosensory cortical area (SII) with reduced amplitude and higher variability across subjects. There was a significant difference in adaptation rate between SI and higher-order somatosensory cortices for hand stimulation. Adaptation was significantly dependent on stimulus frequency and pulse index within the stimulus train for both hand and face stimulation. The peak latency of the activity was significantly dependent on stimulation site (hand vs. face) and cortical area (SI vs. PPC). The difference in the peak latency of activity in SI and PPC is presumed to reflect a hierarchical serial-processing mechanism in the somatosensory cortex.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants NIH R01 DC003311 (SM Barlow), the Sutherland Foundation, and the Hoglund Brain Imaging Center (supported by a generous gift from Forrest and Sally Hoglund).

Conflict of interest

Drs. Barlow and Venkatesan are the inventors of the TAC-Cell, which is registered and licensed by the University of Kansas to Epic Medical Concepts and Innovations, Incorporated (Olathe, KS, USA). There are no additional conflicts of interest with any of the commercial manufacturers listed in this research paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Communication Neuroscience Laboratories, University of Nebraska, 141 Barkley Memorial Center, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA

    Lalit Venkatesan & Steven M. Barlow

  2. Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA

    Steven M. Barlow

  3. Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, University of Nebraska, 272 Barkley Memorial Center, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA

    Steven M. Barlow

  4. Hoglund Brain Imaging Center, Kansas University Medical Center, Mailstop 1052, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA

    Mihai Popescu & Anda Popescu

Authors
  1. Lalit Venkatesan
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  2. Steven M. Barlow
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  3. Mihai Popescu
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  4. Anda Popescu
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Correspondence to Lalit Venkatesan.

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Venkatesan, L., Barlow, S.M., Popescu, M. et al. Integrated approach for studying adaptation mechanisms in the human somatosensory cortical network. Exp Brain Res 232, 3545–3554 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-014-4043-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-014-4043-5

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