Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Neurosci Lett. 2013 Aug 26;548:33-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2013.04.019. Epub 2013 Apr 28.
The purpose of this study was to shed light on cortical audiotactile integration and sensory substitution mechanisms, thought to serve as a basis for the use of a sensor glove in the preservation of the cortical map of the hand after peripheral nerve injuries. Fourteen subjects were selected and randomly assigned either to a training group, trained to replace touch for hearing with the use of a sensor glove, or to a control group, untrained. Training group volunteers had to identify textures just by the sound. In an fMRI experiment, all subjects received three types of stimuli: tactile only, combined audiotactile stimulation, and auditory only. Results indicate that, for trained subjects, a coupling between auditory and somatosensory cortical areas is established through associative areas. Differences in signal correlation between groups point to a pairing mechanism, which, at first, connects functionally the primary auditory and sensory areas (trained subjects). Later, this connection seems to be mediated by associative areas. The training with the sensor glove influences cortical audiotactile integration mechanisms, determining BOLD signal changes in the somatosensory area during auditory stimulation.
本研究旨在阐明皮质听觉触觉整合和感觉替代机制，这些机制被认为是在周围神经损伤后使用传感器手套保护手部皮质图的基础。选择了 14 名受试者，并随机分配到训练组或对照组。训练组接受训练，使用传感器手套将触觉替换为听觉，而对照组则不接受训练。训练组志愿者必须仅凭声音识别纹理。在 fMRI 实验中，所有受试者均接受了三种刺激：仅触觉、听觉触觉联合刺激和仅听觉刺激。结果表明，对于受过训练的受试者，听觉和躯体感觉皮质区之间通过联合区建立了一种耦合。组间信号相关性的差异表明存在一种配对机制，该机制首先将主要的听觉和感觉区域（训练组）在功能上连接起来。随后，这种连接似乎通过联合区介导。传感器手套的训练影响了皮质听觉触觉整合机制，导致听觉刺激时感觉区的 BOLD 信号发生变化。
