COMPTUTATIONAL MODELS OF CORTICAL MAP REORGANIZATION

这项拟议研究的广泛、长期目标是开发、 分析和评估小脑皮质卒中的计算机模型。在……里面 特别是，在模拟后新皮质地图的重组 将对中风进行检查。因此，这项研究将补充传统的 研究脑血管疾病的临床和动物模型方法。 这将有助于揭示中风后康复的病理生理学以及其他 大体而言，大脑皮层信息处理的动力学。 本研究采用的研究方法如下。计算机模拟 被称为神经模型的几个新皮质将被开发 已知有地形图和计算图的区域：主要(SI)和 次级(SII)躯体感觉皮质、初级(VI)视觉皮质、运动 (MI)皮质，顶叶皮质7a区。在每种情况下，它都将是 演示了地形图或计算地图与 经验性地观察到的突触自发出现 在神经模型中的学习期间发生的修改。通过改变 每个模型区域的底层网络结构、激活机制、 学习方法或其他参数，这些因素中的每一个在 将研究地图的形成。随后，每个模型都将被勒索 (“模拟中风”)。由此产生的病变后地图重组将是 其特点是病变的大小和位置有系统的不同。这 特征化将使可测试的预测可以在 未来的临床或实验室研究。这项工作将由一名 具有神经学专业知识的多学科研究小组， 神经生理学和计算机科学。

The broad, long-term objective of this proposed research is to develop, analyze and evaluate computer models of small cortical strokes. In particular, the reorganization of neocortical maps following simulated strokes will be examined. This research will thus complement traditional clinical and animal model approaches to studying cerebrovascular disease. It will shed light on the pathophysiology of post-stroke recovery and on the dynamics of neocortical information processing in general. The methods used in this research are as follows. Computer simulations referred to as neural models will be developed for several neocortical regions known to have topographic and computational maps: primary (SI) and secondary (SII) somatosensory cortex, primary (VI) visual cortex, motor (MI) cortex, and area 7a in parietal cortex. In each case it will be demonstrated that topographic or computational maps resembling those observed empirically emerge spontaneously as a result of synaptic modifications occurring during learning in the neural model. By varying each model region's underlying network structure, activation mechanism, learning method, or other parameters, the role of each of these factors in map formation will be examined. Subsequently, each model will be lesioned ("simulated stroke"). The resultant post-lesion map reorganization will be characterized as lesion size and location are systematically varied. This characterization will make testable predictions that can be investigated in future clinical or laboratory studies. This work will be done by a multidisciplinary research group with expertise in neurology, neurophysiology and computer science.