Brain, Vol. 124, No. 4, 757-768,
April 2001
© 2001 Oxford University Press
Functional changes of the primary somatosensory cortex in patients with unilateral cerebellar lesions
1 Department of Neurology, Catholic University, 2 Casa di Cura San Raffaele Pisana, Tosinvest Sanità and 3 Rehabilitation Hospital and Research Institute Santa Lucia, Experimental Neurorehabilitation Laboratory, IRCCS Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
Correspondence to:
Domenico Restuccia, Department of Neurology, Catholic University, Policlinico A. Gemelli, L.go A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy E-mail: drestuccia{at}pelagus.it
Although cerebellar lesions do not cause evident sensory deficits, it has been suggested recently that the cerebellum might play a role in sensory acquisition and discrimination. To determine whether the cerebellum influences the early phases of cortical somatosensory processing, we recorded cortical somatosensory evoked potentials after median nerve stimulation in five patients with unilateral cerebellar damage. We also performed a dipolar source analysis of traces by means of brain electrical source analysis. In all patients, the amplitude of the frontal N24 and parietal P24 components, as well as the strength of the corresponding dipolar sources, were significantly smaller after stimulation of the symptomatic side. These neurophysiological findings indicate that the primary somatosensory cortical processing is altered after contralateral cerebellar damage. They represent the first indication of a possible substrate for the reduction in cerebral blood flow observed in the parietal cortex after cerebellar lesion. Furthermore, the present data allow characterization of the functional influence of the cerebellar input to the primary somatosensory cortex as specifically acting over the inhibitory components of somatosensory processing.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  K. Rabe, B. Brandauer, Y. Li, E. R. Gizewski, D. Timmann, and J. Hermsdorfer Size-Weight Illusion, Anticipation, and Adaptation of Fingertip Forces in Patients With Cerebellar Degeneration J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2009; 101(2): 569 - 579. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. Restuccia, G. D. Marca, M. Valeriani, M. G. Leggio, and M. Molinari Cerebellar damage impairs detection of somatosensory input changes. A somatosensory mismatch-negativity study Brain, January 1, 2007; 130(1): 276 - 287. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M Molinari, L Petrosini, S Misciagna, and M G Leggio Visuospatial abilities in cerebellar disorders J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry, February 1, 2004; 75(2): 235 - 240. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|