2024 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 52-61
The perception of somatosensory stimuli requires highly complex processing within the brain. It is well-established that the primary somatosensory cortex, located in the postcentral gyrus, is closely involved in perception. Recent advancements in brain imaging technology and brain analysis techniques have illuminated the cooperative involvement of multiple brain regions in somatosensory processing, beyond the primary somatosensory cortex alone. Our research group has focused on one aspect of somatosensory processing, namely two-point discrimination, revealing the involvement of various brain regions in this process from both functional and structural perspectives. In this review, we discuss the roles of specific cortical regions involved in two-point discrimination based on these preceding studies. We also address our latest findings and challenges in non-invasive brain stimulation strategies aimed at enhancing somatosensory function. Furthermore, we introduce additional strategies derived from our brain imaging research and explore their potential application in the rehabilitation of somatosensory impairments following stroke.
