FEATURE ARTICLE
Brain Plasticity and Recovery from Stroke
What has changed in the brain of a stroke patient who recovers the ability to move a once-disabled limb?
R?diger J. Seitz, Nina Azari
The brain has a remarkable ability to reorganize itself throughout the human life span. The most extraordinary example may be the remodeling of the cerebral cortex after an injury in which a large part of it simply dies. It is not uncommon for stroke patients who have lost the ability to speak or to move a limb to regain function after several weeks of convalescence. How does the brain recover? Using neuro-imaging techniques, Azari and Seitz found a multi-stage process of recovery during which different parts of the brain compensate for the injured region at different times. The results may have implications for therapeutic interventions after a stroke.
Go to Article