A mosaic of whole-body representations on the human precentral gyrus - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #motor cortex
- #neuroscience
- #brain mapping
- A comprehensive single-neuron resolution map of the human motor cortex was created using microelectrode array recordings from 8 individuals with paralysis.
- The precentral gyrus (PCG) exhibits highly intermixed whole-body representations, with all body parts represented across sampled locations, though strength aligns roughly with the motor homunculus.
- Two speech-preferential areas were identified, separated by a broadly tuned orofacial-dominant region.
- Limb movement representations were interlinked throughout the PCG, with homologous movements (e.g., toe curl and hand close) showing correlated activity.
- The findings support an intermixed, interrelated, and behavior-centered organization of the motor cortex, providing targeting insights for brain-computer interfaces.