%0 Journal Article
%@ 1535-3702
%A Ricciardi, Emiliano
%A Basso, Demis
%A Sani, Lorenzo
%A Bonino, Daniela
%A Vecchi, Tomaso
%A Pietrini, Pietro
%A Miniussi, Carlo
%D 2011
%F eprints:2934
%I SAGE
%J Experimental Biology and Medicine
%N 2
%P 138-144
%T Functional inhibition of the human middle temporal cortex affects non-visual motion perception: a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation study during tactile speed discrimination
%U http://eprints.imtlucca.it/2934/
%V 236
%X The visual motion-responsive middle temporal complex (hMT+) is activated during tactile and aural motion discrimination in both sighted and congenitally blind individuals, suggesting a supramodal organization of this area. Specifically, non-visual motion processing has been found to activate the more anterior portion of the hMT+. In the present study, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was used to determine whether this more anterior portion of hMT+ truly plays a functional role in tactile motion processing. Sixteen blindfolded, young, healthy volunteers were asked to detect changes in the rotation velocity of a random Braille-like dot pattern by using the index or middle finger of their right hand. rTMS was applied for 600 ms (10 Hz, 110% motor threshold), 200 ms after the stimulus onset with a figure-of-eight coil over either the anterior portion of hMT+ or a midline parieto-occipital site (as a control). Accuracy and reaction times were significantly impaired only when TMS was applied on hMT+, but not on the control area. These results indicate that the recruitment of hMT+ is necessary for tactile motion processing, and thus corroborate the hypothesis of a ‘supramodal’ functional organization for this sensory motion processing area.