MECHANISMS AND PERCEPTUAL CORRELATES OF CNS PLASTICITY

描述：对人类大脑和脊髓的损伤通常是 被视为不可逆转。 然而，这种关于大脑组织的观点一直受到 受到挑战，多达1/3的初级躯体感觉皮层可以 对中枢神经系统的损伤做出反应。 目前，底层 这种大规模重组的机制尚未得到很好的理解。 提出了五个具体目标。 具体目标之一是解决 可能进行重组的潜在机制。 另一 将要解决的问题是，这种改变是否是功能性的， 或者在感知上，对发生变化的动物来说是重要的。 通过理解极限、知觉关联和神经机制 与损伤诱导的皮质重组相关，申请人希望 来提供关于如何利用成年人的巨大能力的见解， 大脑对伤害做出反应，以便为数百人提供帮助， 在美国，有成千上万的人患有感觉障碍， 每年因头部或神经损伤导致的神经损伤。

DESCRIPTION: Damage to the human brain and spinal cord is generally regarded as irreversible. However, this view of brain organization has been challenged, and up to 1/3 of the primary somatosensory cortex could reorganize in respond to injury to the CNS. At present, the underlying mechanism(s) of such large scale reorganization are not well understood. Five specific aims are proposed. One of the specific aims addresses potential mechanisms by which reorganization might take place. Another question which will be addressed is whether such changes are functionally, or perceptually, significant to the animal in which the changes take place. By understanding the limits, perceptual correlates and neural mechanisms associated with injury induced cortical reorganization, the applicant hope to provide insight as to how to harness this immense capacity of the adult brain to respond to injury so as to provide help to the hundreds and thousands of the people in the US that suffer sensory disorders and neurological impairments due to head or nerve injury each year.