Painful Stimuli Evoke Potentials Recorded over the Human Anterior Cingulate
Gyrus.
F.A.Lenz, M. Rios, A. Zirh, D.Chau, G.Krauss, and R.P.Lesser. .
Depts. of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore MD
21287-7713.
APStracts 4:354N, 1997.
ABSTRACT
Clinical studies of cingulotomy patients and imaging studies predict that the
human cingulate gyrus might display pain-related activity. We now report
potentials evoked by painful cutaneous stimulation with a CO2 laser (LEP) and
recorded from subdural electrodes over the medial wall of the hemisphere. In
response to facial laser stimulation on both sides, a negative (latency 211-
242 ms) and then a positive wave (325-352 ms) were recorded from the cortex of
right medial wall and from the falcine dura overlying the left medial wall.
Medial wall LEPs were similar to scalp LEPs and were largest over the anterior
cingulate and superior frontal gyri just anterior to motor cortex
contralateral to the side of stimulation. These results demonstrate that there
is significant direct nociceptive input to the human anterior cingulate gyrus
(Brodmann's area 24).
Received 18 September 1997; accepted in final form 3 December 1997.
APS Manuscript Number J764-7.
Article publication pending J. Neurophysiol.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1997 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 12 December 1997