Topography of somatosensory evoked magnetic fields following posterior tibial nerve stimulation

Median and tibial nerve somatosensory evoked potentials: middle-latency components from the vicinity of the secondary somatosensory cortex in humans

The topography of the middle-latency N110 after radial nerve stimulation suggested a generator in SII. To support this hypothesis, we have tried to identify a homologous component in the tibial nerve SEP (somatosensory evoked potential). Evoked potentials following tibial nerve stimulation (motor + sensory threshold) were recorded with 29 electrodes (bandpass 0.5-500 Hz, sampling rate 1000 Hz). For comparison, the median nerve was stimulated at the wrist. Components were identified as peaks in the global field power (GFP). Map series were generated around GFP peaks and amplitudes were measured from electrodes near map maxima. With median nerve stimulation, we recorded a negativity with a maximum in temporal electrode positions and 106 +/- 12 ms peak latency (mean +/- SD), comparable to the N110 following radial nerve stimulation. After tibial nerve stimulation the latency of a component with the same topography was 131 +/- 11 ms (N130). Both N110 and N130 were present ipsi- as well as contralaterally. Amplitudes were significantly higher on the contralateral than the ipsilateral scalp for both median (3.1 +/- 2.4 microV vs. 1.7 +/- 1.6 microV) and tibial nerve (1.9 +/- 1.2 microV vs. 0.6 + 1 microV). The topography of the N130 can be explained by a generator in the vicinity of SII. The latency difference between median and tibial nerve stimulation is related to the longer conduction distance (cf. N20 and P40). The smaller ipsilateral N130 is consistent with the bilateral body representation in SII.

Somatosensory evoked magnetic fields and potentials following passive toe movement in humans

The somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs) and evoked potentials (SEPs) following passive toe movement were studied in 10 normal subjects. Five main components were identified in SEFs recorded around the vertex around the foot area of the primary sensory cortex (SI). The first and second components, 1M and 2M, were identified at approximately 35 and 46 ms. Equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) of both 1M and 2M were estimated around SI in the hemisphere contralateral to the movement toe, and were probably generated in area 3a or area 2, which mainly receive inputs ascending through muscle and joint afferents. The large inter-individual difference of 1M and 2M in terms of ECD orientation was probably due to a large anatomical variance of the foot area of SI. The third and fourth components, 3M and 4M, were identified at approximately 62 ms and 87 ms, respectively. They appeared to be a single large long-duration component with two peaks. Since the 3M and 4M components were significantly larger than the 1M and 2M components in amplitude and their ECD location was significantly superior to that of 1M and 2M, we suspected that they were generated in different sites from those of 1M and 2M, probably area 3b or area 4. Four components, 1E, 2E, 3E and 4E, were identified in SEPs, which appeared to correspond to 1M, 2M, 3M and 4M, respectively. The variation observed in the scalp distribution of the primary component, 1E, could be accounted for by the variation of the orientation of ECD of the 1M component. There was a large difference in the waveform of the long-latency component (longer than 100 ms) between SEFs and SEPs. The 5E of SEPs was a large amplitude component, but the 5M of SEFs was small or absent. We speculate that this long-latency component was generated by multiple generators.

Visual evoked cortical magnetic fields to pattern reversal stimulation

We studied visual evoked magnetic fields to pattern reversal stimulation in six healthy subjects. Similar to the N75-P100-N145 components in visual evoked potentials, triphasic deflections, N75m-P100m-N145m, were clearly observed around the midoccipital position. A very small component, P50m, was occasionally observed preceding the N75m. Equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) of the main deflection, P100m, to quadrant-field stimulation were estimated near or around the calcarine fissure contralateral to the stimulation. The vertical ECD location of the P100m to the upper quadrant-field stimulation was estimated significantly lower (0.81 +/- 0.45 cm) than those to lower stimulation. These results were compatible with the retinotopic organization of the visual cortex (cruciform model) and suggested that the P100m originated in the striate cortex. The small P50m, although only a small number of ECDs could be estimated reliably, was located in the contralateral visual cortex. ECDs of the N75m were estimated mainly near or around the contralateral calcarine fissure. ECDs of the N145m were estimated also retinotopically, but with a greater vertical distance (2.90 +/- 1.09 cm) between upper and lower quadrant-field stimulation. MR-overlaid ECDs of the N145m suggested that these originated in the extrastriate cortex. No ECD was estimated when a probe was placed at the midfrontal position.

Magnetoencephalographic study of intracerebral interactions caused by bilateral posterior tibial nerve stimulation in man

We studied somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs) following stimulation of bilateral posterior tibial nerves ('bilateral' waveform) in normal subjects to determine the inter- and intra-hemispheric interference effects caused by activation of sensory areas in bilateral hemispheres. Activated areas in the primary and second sensory cortices (SI and SII) in each hemisphere following bilateral stimulation were clearly identified by estimation of the double best-fitted equivalent current dipoles (ECD) using the spherical head model, and the large inter-individual differences were identified. SEFs following the right posterior tibial nerve stimulation and those following the left stimulation were summated ('summated' waveform). The 'difference' waveform was induced by a subtraction of 'bilateral' waveforms from the 'summated' waveform. Short-latency deflections showed no consistent changes between the 'summated' and 'bilateral' waveforms, but the long-latency deflection, the N100m-P100m, in the 'bilateral' waveform was significantly (P < 0.02) reduced in amplitude as compared with the 'summated' waveform. The differences were clearly identified in the 'difference' waveform, in which the main deflections, U100m-D100m, were found. The ECDs of the short-latency deflections were located in SI contralateral to the stimulated nerve, but the ECDs of the N100m-P100m were located in bilateral SII which are considered to receive ascending signals from the body bilaterally. Therefore, some inhibitory interactions might take place in SII by receiving inputs from the body bilaterally.

Effects of movement and movement imagery on somatosensory evoked magnetic fields following posterior tibial nerve stimulation

We examined the "gating" effects caused by active and passive movements of toes and by "movement imagery" (mental moving of the toe without actual movements) on somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs) following stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve in normal subjects. Active and passive movements significantly attenuated the short- and middle-latency cortical components (P < 0.001) with no latency change, and the effects of the active movements were larger than those of the passive movements. In contrast, the subsequent long-latency component with a latency of about 100 ms was enhanced only by the active movements. Therefore, both centrifugal and centripetal mechanisms should be considered. The gating effects by movements on all components may occur in the primary sensory cortex (SI) in the hemisphere contralateral to the stimulated nerve, because all of the equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) of the components in the "control" and each "interference" waveform were located there. Active movements of the toes contralateral to the stimulated nerve caused no significant gating effect. The short-latency components were not consistently changed by "movement imagery", but the middle- and long-latency components were enhanced. Their ECDs were located in the SI contralateral to the stimulated nerve and in the SII in bilateral hemispheres. Therefore, we speculated that brain responses to somatosensory stimulation, particularly components generated in SII, were affected by volitional changes.

Pain-related somatosensory evoked magnetic fields following lower limb stimulation

Somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs) following painful electrical stimulation of the sural nerve were examined in 6 normal subjects. Equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) of the deflections shorter than 100 ms in latency were located in the foot area of the primary sensory cortex (SI) in the contralateral hemisphere following both weak and painful stimulations. Two main deflections, N150m-P150m and N250m-P250m, were independently identified only following painful stimulation. ECDs of the N150m-P150m were considered to be located in bilateral second sensory cortices (SII). ECDs of the N250m-P250m were identified in multiple areas including bilateral cingulate cortices and SII. These findings were consistent with the pain-related SEFs following upper limb stimulation. Therefore, we considered that bilateral SII and the cingulate cortices were activated by the painful stimulation and that pain-specific brain activities in those areas did not depend on the stimulation site.

Odorant evoked magnetic fields in humans

We investigated the olfactory evoked magnetic fields (OEFs) in 14 normal subjects. Pulses of odorant air containing amyl acetate or phenethyl alcohol, and odorless air were administered to the subject through a nasal tube. A clear and consistent OEF component, 1M, was identified in all subjects, and a second component, 2M, was detected in seven subjects, but no consistent component was identified in response to the odorless air. The peak latencies of the 1M and 2M components were approximately 320 and 630 ms, respectively. The waveforms produced by the odorless air were subtracted from the waveforms produced by the odorant air to obtain the 'subtraction' waveform, which indicated the 1M and 2M component more clearly. Their equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) were estimated in the regions around the Sylvian fissure symmetrically in both hemispheres. Therefore, these areas are proposed to be involved in olfactory perception in humans.

Effects of sleep on somatosensory evoked responses in human: a magnetoencephalographic study

We studied the effects of sleep on somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs) following median nerve stimulation in normal subjects, to investigate the changes of functional processing of sensory perception in the primary and second sensory cortices (SI and SII). The early components, 1M, 2M and 3M, which were generated in SI contralateral to the stimulated nerve, showed no significant change of latency or amplitude in stage 1 or 2 as compared with those in the awake state. The long-latency response, 4M whose latency was about 100 ms, was significantly enhanced in stage 2. The 4M was considered to be generated in SI and SII in the awake state, but the enhanced 4M in stage 2 was restricted in SI. The 4M(I) generated in SII of the hemisphere ipsilateral to the stimulated nerve, corresponding to 4M in the contralateral hemisphere, was absent during sleep. These findings were probably due to the difference of activities between SI and SII during sleep, that is, an increase of sensitivity to somatosensory stimulation in SI but a decrease or disappearance in SII.

Differentiation of receptive fields in the sensory cortex following stimulation of various nerves of the lower limb in humans: a magnetoencephalographic study

The authors investigated magnetoencephalography following stimulation of the posterior tibial (PT) and sural (SU) nerves at the ankle, the peroneal nerve (PE) at the knee, and the femoral nerve (FE) overlying the inguinal ligament in seven normal subjects (14 limbs) and confirmed its usefulness in clarifying the detailed differentiation of the receptive fields in the lower limb area of the primary sensory cortex in humans. The results were summarized as follows: 1) the equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) estimated by the magnetic fields following stimulation of the PT and SU were located very close to each other, along the interhemispheric fissure in all 14 limbs. They were directed horizontally to the hemisphere ipsilateral to the stimulated nerve. 2) The ECD following stimulation of the FE was clearly different from that seen in the other nerves, in terms of the location and/or direction, in all 14 limbs. The ECDs of 14 limbs were classified into two types according to the distance of ECD location between PT and FE; Type 1 (> 1 cm, nine limbs) and Type 2 (< 1 cm, five limbs). The ECD following FE stimulation was located on the crown of the postcentral gyrus or at the edge of the interhemispheric fissure in Type 1 and was close to the ECDs following PT and SU stimulation along the interhemispheric fissure in Type 2. 3) The ECD following PE stimulation was located along the interhemispheric fissure in all 14 limbs as for PT and SU. Its location was slightly but significantly higher than that of PT and SU in Type 1 and was close to ECDs following PT and SU stimulation in Type 2. The present findings indicated that approximately 65% (nine of 14) of the limbs showed the particular receptive fields compatible with the homunculus. Large inter- and the intraindividual (left-right) differences found in the present study indicated a significant anatomical variation in the area of the lower limb in the sensory cortex of humans.

Somatosensory evoked magnetic fields following stimulation of the lip in humans

The topography of somatosensory evoked magnetic fields (SEFs) following stimulation of the upper and lower lips was investigated in 6 normal subjects. When the lateral side of the upper lip was stimulated, P20m and its counterpart, N20m, were identified in the hemisphere contralateral to the stimulated side. The equivalent current dipoles (ECDs) of N20m-P20m were considered to be located in lip area of the primary sensory cortex (SI). Middle latency deflections (N40m-P40m, N60m-P60m, and N80m-P80m) were identified in bilateral hemispheres. Their ECDs were located in the SI in both hemispheres. Long latency deflections (P110m-N110m) were recognized in both hemispheres, and their ECDs were located inferior to the SI, in an area considered to be the secondary sensory cortex (SII). When the midline of the lip was stimulated, similar short and middle latency deflections was also identified, but SII deflections (P110m-N110m) were decreased in amplitude. When the lower lip was stimulated, the ECDs of short and middle latency deflections were located at a site in the SI inferior to or near those elicited by upper lip stimulation. The ECDs of P110m-N110m were located in an area of the SII similar to that upon stimulation of the upper lip, but their orientations were different.

Somatosensory evoked magnetic fields after mechanical stimulation of the scalp in humans

Somatosensory evoked magnetic fields after mechanical stimulation by air-pressure-induced tapping which was applied to the forehead and occiput were examined in normal human subjects. The equivalent current dipole (ECD) of the initial magnetic field, 1M, was identified in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) in the hemisphere contralateral to the stimulation. The ECD of the subsequent magnetic fields, 2M, was identified in bilateral second sensory cortices (SII). The ECD position of 1M in SI generated after the scalp stimulation was closely inferior to the hand area of the SI, which was consistent with the well-known somatotopic organization, 'homunculus'.

Pain-related magnetic fields following painful CO2 laser stimulation in man

The initial somatosensory evoked magnetic fields following painful heat stimulation by CO2 laser beam applied to the upper and lower limb were investigated in normal subjects. The main deflections, 'Pain MA' and 'Pain ML' following the arm and leg stimulation, respectively, were identified in the bilateral second sensory cortices (SII). The onset latencies of Pain MA and Pain ML were approximately 150 and 200 ms, respectively. No consistent equivalent current dipole was found in other areas including the primary sensory cortex in each hemisphere. Therefore, we consider that neurons in the bilateral SII are initially activated following painful heat stimulation.