Functional MRI Evidence for Motor Cortex Reorganization Adjacent to a Lesion in a Primary Motor Cortex

Abstract

Jang SH, Han BS, Chang Y, Byun WM, Lee J, Ahn SH: Functional MRI evidence for motor cortex reorganization adjacent to a lesion in a primary motor cortex. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2002;81:844–847.

Objective: The object of this study was to verify motor cortex reorganization in patients with primary motor cortex injury using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Design: Ten control subjects and two patients with primary motor cortex injury, caused by a traumatic brain injury in patient 1 and meningioma in patient 2, were evaluated. Functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed using the blood oxygenation level–dependent technique at 1.5 T with hand movements.

Results: The contralateral primary sensorimotor cortex was activated by unaffected hand movements. However, only the contralateral primary sensory cortex in patient 1 and the premotor area in patient 2 were activated by affected hand movements, which were totally absent in control subjects.

Conclusion: We believe that the hand motor function of injured primary motor cortex was shifted into the primary sensory cortex in patient 1 and premotor area in patient 2. In conclusion, this finding may reflect a functional reorganization of the motor area in patients with a primary motor cortex injury.