Somatotopy of corticospinal tract in the internal capsule shown by functional MRI and diffusion tensor images

Using functional MRI and diffusion tensor tractography, we studied the topographical relation of hand and foot fibers of the corticospinal tract within the internal capsule to verify the recent unexpected finding by Holodny et al., who reported that hand fibers are located anterolateral to foot fibers, not anteromedial as is currently believed. The location of hand fibers with respect to foot fibers was anterolateral in four participants, posterolateral in two, and anteromedial in one of seven participants examined. Thus, there was some support for the anterolateral finding of Holodny et al., but interindividual variability was also indicated.