Publication Type Academic Article
Authors Nudo R, Friel K, Delia S
Journal Neuropharmacology
Volume 39
Issue 5
Pagination 733-42
Date Published 03/03/2000
ISSN 0028-3908
Keywords Cerebral Infarction, Hand, Motor Cortex, Psychomotor Performance, Sensation Disorders
Abstract After a focal ischemic lesion in the hand representation of the primary motor cortex in squirrel monkeys, manual skill was mildly and transiently impaired on a reach-and-retrieval task. Performance was significantly poorer during weeks 1 and 3 post-lesion, but was normal by week 4. An unusual behavioral event was also observed after the lesion. Monkeys reached for pellets, but visually inspected the hand for the presence of the pellets, even when none were actually retrieved. This behavior, possibly indicative of a sensory deficit, was rarely observed prior to the lesion, but was observed at significantly higher levels during week one post-lesion. These results suggest that the primary motor cortex plays a significant role in somatosensory processing during the execution of motor tasks. Motor deficits heretofore identified as purely motor, may be at least partially due to a sensory deficit, or sensory-motor disconnection.
DOI 10.1016/s0028-3908(99)00254-3
PubMed ID 10699440
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