Title: Plasticity and its Role in Neurological Diseases of the Adult Nervous System.
Abstract: Recovery after acute neurological damage, e.g. stroke1 (Table 1), is believed to involve reorganisation of neural circuitry, which enables non-damaged parts of the brain to appropriate new functions. A pragmatist might reasonably argue that understanding the mechanisms underpinning plasticity is not necessary; the goal for physicians is simply to maximise plasticity and, thereby, speed recovery. However, this simple strategy may not work. Excessive or aberrant plasticity has been proposed to cause diseases (Table 1). Therefore, harnessing plasticity for therapeutic benefit requires an understanding of the process of cortical reorganisation and the underlying cellular mechanisms.
Table 1
Neurological conditions in which plasticity may play a role
Plasticity is greatest in the CNS during developmental ‘critical periods’,2,3 but the capacity for significant plasticity remains in adulthood.4,5 This article focuses on our understanding of plasticity in adolescent and adult cortex. We discuss the role of plasticity in disease and consider approaches that may be used to enhance or reactivate plasticity.
Publication Year: 2007
Publication Date: 2007-07-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 7
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