Functional micro-organization of the macaque postcentral somatosensory cortex representing orofacial structures

The somatotopical representation of orofacial structures is well established in the postcentral somatosensory cortex of primates (SI). The inspection of functional micro-organization in SI should lead to understanding of the neural basis that underlies dexterous orofacial functions. There, nearby neurons within a local region sometimes coded anatomically-discrete but functionally-related portions, such as the tongue tip and labial mucosa. Also, nearby pairs of neurons responded to a natural stimulus with varying degrees of temporal correlation. It is likely that a local region of SI is organized in a less redundant manner than previously thought.