High Resolution Functional Mapping of Spatiotemporal Vibrotactile Stimuli Reveals Differential Areal & Laminar Activations in Somatosensory Cortex

Robert Friedman¹, Feng Wang¹, Chaohui Tang¹, Anna Roe¹, Malcolm Avison¹

We used high resolution CBV fMRI to examine the role of inter- and intra-areal processing of spatiotemporally varying tactile inputs in somatosensory motion perception. Simultaneous stimulation of three adjacent digits elicited weaker, more focal activation in area 3b of SI somatosensory cortex than would be predicted from single digit responses. Sequential tapping elicited greater than expected activation in areas 3b and 1. In areas 3b and 1, single digit and simultaneous multiple digit stimulation activated mid-cortical layers, whereas sequential tapping of the digits evoked significant activation in superficial and deep laminae.