Carsten Schmidt‐Samoa

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About

Carsten Schmidt‐Samoa is a neuroscientist whose research focuses on the cortical representation and motor control of the human ear muscles, bridging the fields of motor neuroscience and neuroimaging. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of how the brain controls the vestigial auricular muscles, which most humans can still voluntarily activate. In his most-cited study, "Cortical representation of auricular muscles in humans: A robot-controlled TMS mapping and fMRI study" (2018, 8 citations), Schmidt‐Samoa employed a sophisticated combination of robot-controlled transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to map the cortical areas responsible for posterior auricular muscle (PAM) activation. This work revealed that the PAM has a distinct, organized representation in the primary motor cortex, challenging the notion that these muscles are merely a relic of evolution. By demonstrating that higher cortical centers are involved in their intentional control, Schmidt‐Samoa has opened new avenues for exploring motor learning, neuroplasticity, and potential therapeutic applications for hearing or balance disorders. His innovative use of robotic TMS for precise mapping stands as a methodological contribution, offering a template for studying other small or difficult-to-target muscle groups.