Trigeminal Brainstem Mapping 2: Higher Cortical Strucureas as Well as Subnuclei of the Spinal Trigeminal Nucleus

In previous studies clustering of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve in brainstem were shown, cerebellum and periaqueductal gray. To further evaluate higher cortical structures, which were not covered by our previous field of view (FOV) and to further investigate the identified 'subnuclei' of the spinal trigeminal nucleus, here the aim is to scan the whole brain as well as the brainstem and the upper spinal cord during trigeminal nociceptive as well as non-nociceptive electrical stimulation of all three branches of the trigeminal nerve (and the arm as a somatic control site) during acquisition of BOLD-fMRI in humans.