Peripheral Nerve Injury in Developing Rats Reorganizes Motor Cortex.
Abstract
We investigated the effect of neonatal nerve leisons on cerebral motor cortex organization by comparing the cortical motor representation of normal adult rats with adult rats that had one forelimb removed on the day of birth. Mapping of cerebral neocortex with electrical simulation revealed an altered relationship between the motor cortex and the remaining muscles. While distal forelimb movements are normally elicited at the lowest threshold in the motor cortex forelimb area, the same stimuli activated shoulder and trunk muscles in experimental animals. In addition an expanded cortical representation of intact body parts was present and there was an absence of a distinct portion of motor cortex. These data demonstrate that representation patterns in motor cortex are subject to environmental events that occur during development. Keywords: Neuroplasticity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 19, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA168019
Entities
People
- Jerome N. Sanes
- John P. Donoghue
Organizations
- Brown University