The Ability of FMRI at 7T to Detect Functional Differences Between Areas 1 and 3b of Primary Somatosensory Cortex

Elizabeth Ann Stringer¹, Li Min Chen¹, Robert M. Friedman², J Christopher Gatenby¹, John C. Gore¹

Previously we have demonstrated the ability of ultra-high field fMRI to detect topographical organization of digits within areas 1 and 3b of human primary somatosensory cortex. Here we test the feasibility of 7T fMRI to detect functional differences between these neighboring areas. Functional images were acquired using a 7T Philips Achieva scanner while air puffs were delivered to individual distal fingerpads. Magnitude and temporal differences in the BOLD signal were detected between areas 1 and 3b. The data support previous finding that using fMRI at high fields allows the detection of more stimulus selective responses.