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Volumetric localization of somatosensory cortex in children using synthetic aperture magnetometry

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Abstract

Background

Magnetic signal from the human brain can be measured noninvasively by using magnetoencephalography (MEG).

Objective

This study was designed to localize and reconstruct the neuromagnetic activity in the somatosensory cortex in children

Materials and methods

Twenty children were studied using a 151-channel MEG system with electrical stimulation applied to median nerves. Data were analyzed using synthetic aperture magnetometry (SAM).

Results

A clear deflection (M1) was clearly identified in 18 children (90%, 18/20). Two frequency bands, 30–60 Hz and 60–120 Hz, were found to be related to somatosensory cortex. Magnetic activity was localized in the posterior bank of the central sulcus in 16 children. The extent of the reconstructed neuromagnetic activity of the left hemisphere was significantly larger than that of the right hemisphere (P<0.01).

Conclusion

Somatosensory cortex was accurately localized by using SAM. The extent of the reconstructed neuromagnetic activity suggested that the left hemisphere was the dominant side in the somatosensory system in children. We postulate that the volumetric characteristics of the reconstructed neuromagnetic activity are able to indicate the functionality of the brain.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Paul Babyn for insightful theoretical discussions and many practical suggestions during the course of these experiments. This study was supported by Seed Grant (77331) from the Research Institute at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 1X8

    Jing Xiang, Stephanie Holowka & Sylvester Chuang

  2. Department of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 1X8

    Rohit Sharma, Amrita Hunjan & Hiroshi Otsubo

  3. Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 1X8

    Jing Xiang

Authors
  1. Jing Xiang
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  2. Stephanie Holowka
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  3. Rohit Sharma
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  4. Amrita Hunjan
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  5. Hiroshi Otsubo
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  6. Sylvester Chuang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jing Xiang.

Additional information

This study was supported by Seed Grant (77331) from the Research Institute at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada

This paper was presented at The Society of Pediatric Radiology 2002 meeting and received 1st Place Poster Award

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Xiang, J., Holowka, S., Sharma, R. et al. Volumetric localization of somatosensory cortex in children using synthetic aperture magnetometry. Ped Radiol 33, 321–327 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-003-0883-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-003-0883-z

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