ABSTRACT
Objective To identify the neural substrates of three motor tasks (repetitive and sequential fin-get-to-thumb opposition movements in turn, making fates, fingers passive flexion-extension movements in turn) of dominant and subdominant hands by using the whole-brain functional magnetic resonance imaging. Methods Ten right-handed healthy volunteers were scanned while they were performing the movement tasks with their right and left fingers. The motor cortex active volume and intensity was recorded. Quantitive analysis of motor cortex was conducted with paired t test. Results Under the three hand motor tasks, activation volumes in SMC during movements of the subdominant hand were significantly larger than those during movements of the dominant hand (P < 0. 05). Activation volumes during finger-to-thumb opposition movements and passive bendlng-extending fingers movements were significantly larger than those during movements of making fasts (P < 0.05). Activation intensity during passive ben-ding-extending fingers movements was significantly larger than those during movements of making fasts (P < 0.05). Conclusion The representation of the Motor Cortex is related to the complexity of the hand motor exercises. Quantitive criterion as volume and intensity approves the dissymmetry of cortex activation by dominant and subdominant fingers'movements. It is practicable and credible to adopt invariable fingers passive flexion-extension movements in turn in the study on BOLD-fMRI.