Hilmi Uysal1, Özlenen Özkan2, Ebru Barçın2, Utku Şenol2, Kadriye Tombak2, Ömer Özkan2. 1. From the Departments of Neurology (H.U., E.B.), Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (Özlenen Özkan, Ömer Özkan), Radiology (U.Ş.), and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (K.T.), Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey. uysalh@akdeniz.edu.tr. 2. From the Departments of Neurology (H.U., E.B.), Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (Özlenen Özkan, Ömer Özkan), Radiology (U.Ş.), and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (K.T.), Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Using a single patient case study, we aimed to look at the interaction between full face transplantation and subsequent somatosensory representation in the cortex. METHODS: We present a patient with full face transplantation who has recovered primary sensory modalities. The patient also has facial sensations such as touch perception in sensory examinations of the hands and fingers. RESULTS: fMRI findings show interactions between the cortical representations of the face and hand. CONCLUSION: This phenomenon is one of the well-known referred sensations and reveals how face transplantation relates to cortical plasticity.
OBJECTIVE: Using a single patient case study, we aimed to look at the interaction between full face transplantation and subsequent somatosensory representation in the cortex. METHODS: We present a patient with full face transplantation who has recovered primary sensory modalities. The patient also has facial sensations such as touch perception in sensory examinations of the hands and fingers. RESULTS: fMRI findings show interactions between the cortical representations of the face and hand. CONCLUSION: This phenomenon is one of the well-known referred sensations and reveals how face transplantation relates to cortical plasticity.