Attention modulates somatosensory cerebral blood flow response to vibrotactile stimulation as measured by positron emission tomography

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Abstract
In human primary somatosensory cortex, the cerebral blood flow response to vibrotactile stimulation of the fingers (110 Hz), as measured by positron emission tomography and H215O, was 13% higher (p < 0.025) when the subjects attended to the stimulus, compared to when they were simultaneously engaged in a distraction task. This suggests that the physiological response of a primary cortical area can be modulated by the attentive behavior of the subject.