Abstract
Acute deafferentation of a limb results in bilateral cortical reorganization1,2, but the behavioral consequences of this phenomenon are unknown. Here we found rapid improvements in tactile spatial acuity and changes in cortical processing for the left hand during cutaneous anesthesia of the right hand. The site-specific improvement in tactile spatial acuity may represent a behavioral compensatory gain.
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One of the authors (R.V.B.) receives royalties for the sales of one of the devices (Tactile Acuity Gratings) used in this study. These royalties amount to less than five hundred dollars (US$500) yearly.
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Werhahn, K., Mortensen, J., Van Boven, R. et al. Enhanced tactile spatial acuity and cortical processing during acute hand deafferentation. Nat Neurosci 5, 936–938 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn917
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nn917
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