Question

Jeff is undergoing brain surgery to remove a tumor. The surgeon applies electrical simulation to various areas around the tumor, causing Jeff to report tingling sensations in various areas of his skin. The tumor is most likely in which lobe of Jeff's brain?

Answer 1

Jeff's tingling sensations induced by electrical stimulation during surgery indicate that the tumor is most likely located in the parietal lobe of his brain, which contains the primary somatosensory cortex responsible for processing sensory information from the skin.

Step-by-step explanation:

If Jeff is experiencing tingling sensations in various areas of his skin when electrical stimulation is applied to areas around the tumor, this suggests that the tumor is likely in the parietal lobe of his brain. The parietal lobe is responsible for processing sensory input from the body's senses, including touch, temperature and, as suggested by Jeff's experience, the sensation of tingles or 'pins and needles.'

The somatosensory cortex, which is part of the parietal lobe, is where tactile senses such as touch and pressure, as well as pain and temperature, are processed. This region is known for its ability to create somatotopic maps, which correspond to the sensory information received from different parts of the body. Given that the parietal lobe contains the primary somatosensory cortex (specifically Brodmann's areas 1, 2, and 3), if the tumor is affecting this area, electrical stimulation would likely provoke tactile sensations such as tingling in corresponding regions of the skin.