Affiliations: The Stroke Center-Dallas, Department of Communication
Sciences and Disorders, Texas Woman's University, 1810 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX
75235, USA | Department of Neurology, The University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center, 5353 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas TX 75235, USA | Department of Physical Therapy, The University of
Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5353 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75235,
USA | The Mobility Foundation Center, Dallas, TX, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: D. Walker-Batson, The Stroke Center-Dallas
1810 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX 75235-7299, USA. Tel.: +1 214 689 6592; Fax: +1
214 689 6614; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Over the past two decades, experimental studies following brain
injury have shown that the central nervous system is dynamic and malleable to
internal and external inputs. Neuromodulation and/or direct manipulation of
motor and sensory experience can modify brain plasticity and functional outcome
after experimental lesions. Specifically, pharmacologic modulation has been
found to facilitate recovery of various behavioral deficits following occlusive
injury. Additionally, the behavioral experience that induces long-term
plasticity in motor and sensory maps after injury appears to be limited to
those that entail the development of new skills. These data have strong
application to human rehabilitation. This review will: (1) overview critical
experimental studies that show that pharmacologic manipulation and/or specific
behavioral experience may modify the functional organization of the injured
brain and (2) review beginning studies which are exploring the application of
this knowledge clinically.
