Luca Marciani1, David Humes1, Kay Head2, Tom White2, Jan Smith1, Debbie Bush1, Matt Brookes2, Claire Stevenson2, Peter G. Morris2, Robin C. Spiller1, Penny A. Gowland2, Sue T. Francis2
1Nottingham Digestive Diseases Centre Biomedical Research Unit, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; 2Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
Previous fMRI studies suggested that painful barostat balloon rectal distension activates a widespread network of brain structures. The nature of the cortical response to the paradigm has been investigated, and improved correlations have been found when comparing to the ramps of the distension, rather than the full period of the distension. Similar areas were identified by MEG, which, given its direct nature, also gives it potential to provide insight into the timescale of electrical power changes in the cortical areas of interest identified using fMRI.
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