MECHANISMS AND PERCEPTUAL CORRELATES OF CNS PLASTICITY

描述：对人脑和脊髓的损害通常是 被认为是不可逆转的。然而，这种关于大脑组织的观点一直是 挑战，高达1/3的初级体感皮质可以 重组以应对中枢神经系统的损伤。目前，潜在的 如此大规模的重组机制(S)还不是很清楚。 提出了五个具体目标。其中一个具体的目标是解决 可能进行重组的潜在机制。另一个 将解决的问题是，这些变化是否在功能上， 或者在感知上，对发生变化的动物具有重大意义。 通过理解极限、知觉关联和神经机制 与损伤引起的皮质重组相关，申请者希望 提供关于如何利用成年人的这种巨大能力的见解 大脑对损伤做出反应，从而为数百人和 在美国，数以千计的人患有感觉障碍和 每年因头部或神经损伤而导致的神经损伤。

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.