Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) deals with metabolic image effects of brain activation. In recent years, the mechanism underlying motor function has been intensively studied by fMRI. The aim of this paper is to offer an overview of the several researches by stating some questions raised by the study of motor function. Is fMRI useful to map cerebral functions in patients with cerebral tumors? More precisely fMRI in the patients with cerebral tumors showed activation for a motor task within the same gyrus in which intraoperatice electrical stimulation elicited a related motor function? Where neural elements related in motor hand function are located? Do tongue movements produce activations within the primary motor cortex by fMRI? What is the role of the primary motor cortex in the elaboration of motor imagery? In the monkeys, there is evidence that a pre SMA lies rostral SMA proper. In humans, are there separate cortical areas on the medial wall of the hemisphere analogous to the pre SMA, SMA proper? Is the time course differentially activated between the activated areas related learning of visuomotor sequences? Are uncrossed motor neural pathways accessed to compensate for damage to the crossed motor pathways after ischemic stroke?
