INFLUENCE OF BEHAVIORAL EXPERIENCE ON NEURAL PLASTICITY IN STROKE NEUROREHAB

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. The primary tasks of Jones and Schallert in this project are to: (a) design and implement a motor rehabilitation program with control procedures to enhance neural and functional outcome in rats that sustain focal ischemic injury unilaterally in the sensorimotor cortex; (b) carry out at UT a videometric analysis of functional outcome, including forelimb reaching and sensorimotor function; (c) train personnel in the McNeill lab and others at USC on rehabilitative training and functional outcome tests; (d) prepare the brains of experimental rats to be sent to McNeill for analyses of molecular changes (e) assess bi-hemispheric neocortical neuronal structural changes, including pyramidal neuron dendritic arborization and spine changes in the brains of experimental animals from both UT and USC; (f) participate by frequent trips to USC and email correspondence in the execution of experiments examining the interactive effects of motor therapy and agents that enhance or reduce neuroplasticity in both rats and people with ischemic injury. The questions of primary interests are (1) whether the combination of acrobatic experience and reach training will significantly improve behavioral outcome compared to either independent manipulation and (2) whether the rehabilitative training manipulation that is optimal for improving behavioral function promotes the greatest cortical and striatal neuroplastic change