FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE SOMATOSENSORY SYSTEM

几类对猴子的实验计划与 更好地理解组织、发展、 和损伤相关的可塑性的感觉和运动系统， 人类 (1)正常的组织和连接模式将 在皮质、脑干和脊髓水平进行研究， 使用微电极标测方法，单个单位记录， 和一系列解剖学示踪剂 这些信息是基本的， 高等灵长类动物复杂的感觉系统 处理信息并产生运动模式。 结果还 作为伤害调查的对比和对照 在成人和发育系统中诱导可塑性。 (2)有限 皮层感觉神经正常发育的研究 表示和连接将使用相同的方法， 对于了解正常发育以及如何发育都很重要 对发育系统的伤害可以改变发育。 (3)一个主要 研究计划的一部分将致力于了解 成年人和发育中的躯体感觉系统如何重组为 结果周围神经损伤和再生。 手的皮质表征将被研究， 微电极标测正常组织的改变 方法，以及再生和邻近完整的条件 神经将通过解剖追踪进行独立评价 方法. 结果将对以下方面产生重大影响： 了解神经和脑损伤的后果， 成年人和发育中的人类，并应提供信息 与修复和治疗策略相关。 此外该 结果将是重要的，在建设和修订的理论， 神经系统是如何发展和自我组织的

Several categories of experiments on monkeys are planned with the broad goal of better understanding the organization, development, and injury related plasticity of sensory and motor systems in humans. (1) Normal organization and connection patterns will be investigated at cortical, brainstem, and spinal cord levels with the use of microelectrode mapping methods, single unit recordings, and a range of anatomical tracers. This information is basic for understandings of how complex sensory systems of higher primates process information and produce motor patterns. The results also serve as a comparison and control for investigation of injury induced plasticity in adult and developing systems. (2) Limited studies on the normal development of cortical sensory representations and connections will use the same methods, and will be important in both understanding normal development and how injury to developing systems can alter development. (3) A major part of the research program will be directed toward understanding how adult and developing somatosensory systems reorganize as a result of peripheral nerve injury with and without regeneration. Cortical representations of the hand will be studied for alterations from normal organization with microelectrode mapping methods, and the condition of regenerated and adjacent intact nerves will be evaluated independently with anatomical tracing methods. The results will have major implications for understanding of the consequences of nerve and brain injury in adult and developing humans, and should provide information relevant to repair and treatment strategies. In addition, the results will be important in constructing and revising theories of how the nervous system develops and self-organizes.