Combination of Cortical Stimulation with Other Therapies

运动康复利用了运动学习的机制，现在已经非常确定的是，运动学习诱导成年动物（包括人类）大脑中神经连接和活动模式的重大变化。这使得运动康复非常适合促进运动皮质卒中后功能适当的神经连接的形成，但当与其他治疗方法结合使用时，它可能是最有效的。来自该项目研究团队的证据表明，局灶性皮层电刺激（CS）可增强康复治疗的效力。 训练（RT）。所用的RT类型可能是CS/RT疗效的关键变量，迄今为止，仅研究了一种类型的RT。项目2将使用感觉运动皮层局灶性缺血损伤的大鼠模型来优化与硬膜外CS相结合的运动康复。具体目的是（1）评估优化CS/RT与啮齿动物版本的约束诱导运动疗法相结合的功效（2）确定最佳运动康复训练方案以将联合收割机与CS相结合，以及（3）确定由CS/RT产生的增强性能在治疗停止后是否持久。

Motor rehabilitation capitalizes upon mechanisms of motor learning and it is now very well-established that motor learning induces major changes in neural connectivity and activity patterns in the brains of adult animals, including humans. This makes motor rehabilitation extremely well suited to promote the formation of functionally appropriate neural connectivity after motor cortical strokes, but it is likely to be most effective when used in combination with other treatment approaches. Converging evidence from the research teams of this program indicate that focal cortical electrical stimulation (CS) enhances the potency of rehabilitative training (RT). The type of RT used is likely to be a critical variable in the efficacy of CS/RT and, to date, only one type of RT has been examined. Project 2 will use a rat model of focal ischemic damage to the sensorimotor cortex to optimize the motor rehabilitation that is combined with epidural CS. The specific aims are to (1) assess the efficacy of combining the optimized CS/RT with a rodent version of constraint-induced movement therapy (2) determine the optimal motor rehabilitative training regime to combine with CS, and (3) determine whether enhanced performance produced by CS/RT is long-lasting after the cessation of the treatment.