Figure 2.

Toe Maps in the Foot Area

(A and B) Univariate selectivity maps (each digit versus all others contrasts) are presented for (A). The hand of one control participant (as a visual reference for “hand-like” maps; lateral view) and for the foot of the same control (dorsal view) (B), and the feet of the median control (according to somatotopy scores, see (D). Controls did not show topographic toe maps (even without FDR correction; see full results in Figure S1).

(C) Selectivity maps of the artists’ dextrous foot (dorsal view) at the medial aspect of the postcentral gyrus contralateral to the dextrous foot, following the medio-lateral somatotopic organization characteristic of hand maps. Values are FDR corrected (see Table S3).

(D) Mean activity for each digit (versus rest) in digit-specific clusters (D1–D5, correspond to big-to-little toe) shows topographic organization for the artists’ dextrous foot but not for controls. Digits used to define each cluster are colored using horizontal stripes. When no significant cluster was found for a digit, the corresponding space has been left empty (e.g., artist 1, D5). Control results were averaged across hemispheres (see full results in Figure S2).

(E) Somatotopy score (D_soma; mean activity differences between neighboring digits [of each cluster’s strongest digit] and other digits) is higher for both artists than for controls (n = 9, averaged across hemispheres). The SD for control scores is indicated by a vertical line.

See also Figures S1 and S2 and Table S3.