Reorganisation of cortical motor and language distribution in human brain

Background: The locations of cortex controlling motor, sensory, or language functions can change in adult humans under some circumstances, such as expanding tumors, trauma, or continuous focal seizures. It is not clear what other circumstances might result in changes in cortical functional maps. Methods: We compared the results of extraoperative cortical mappings of motor, sensory, and language functions in two epilepsy patients who underwent cortical resections on two separate occasions and who did not have brain tumors. Results: We found that locations of motor functions could differ between the first and second procedures, but the locations of language functions were quite similar. The changes were not necessarily in or adjacent to epileptogenic regions or adjacent to resection boundaries. Conclusions: These findings support previous evidence indicating that cortical functional representations can change over time in humans, and suggest that these changes cannot be explained solely by lesion effects.