Question

If a stroke affected all the sensations interpreted by the brain just concerning the face and the hands, approximately what percentage of the postcentral gyrus would be affected?

Answer 1

The face and hands have a large representation in the somatosensory homunculus of the postcentral gyrus. If a stroke affected all sensations in these areas, a considerable portion of the postcentral gyrus would be affected, possibly ranging from 25-40%, though individual variation might influence this estimate.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a stroke affected all the sensations interpreted by the brain specifically concerning the face and the hands, it would implicate a significant portion of the postcentral gyrus. The postcentral gyrus, also known as the primary somatosensory cortex, is responsible for processing tactile and proprioceptive information. This area of the brain is mapped in a way that specific regions correspond to sensations from different parts of the body, a representation known as the somatosensory homunculus.

The face and hands occupy a relatively large area on the homunculus compared to other body parts. Given this somatotopic organization, if both the face and hands were to lose sensation due to a stroke, it means that a substantial portion of the postcentral gyrus is affected. Regarding the exact percentage, it's difficult to provide a precise figure without specific neuroimaging data, as individual variation exists. However, considering the extensive representation of the hands and face, it could be estimated that a significant fraction, potentially around 25-40% of the postcentral gyrus, would be implicated.

It's essential to remember that such an event is clinically significant since the postcentral gyrus's contribution to sensory perception is crucial for our interaction with the environment, especially with intricate movements and complex sensory processing tasks involving the hands and facial expressions.

Answer 2

Atleast 2/3 affected

Step-by-step explanation:

Post-central gyrus is the primary somatosensory area of the brain. If this area is affected the patient may experience difficulties with proprioception and kinesthesia. Proprioception is the ability to determine the exact location of the body in space. Kinesthesia is the ability to determine the part of the body that moves.

Post-central gyrus may be impaired to a large or small extent during a stroke, this will depend on the area of the body that has been paralyzed as a result of stroke and will also depend on the speed of medical care.

However, it has been confirmed that if a stroke affected all sensations interpreted by the brain only in the face and hands, approximately At least 2/3 of the post-central gyrus would be affected.