Abstract
The idea that the damaged brain can functionally reorganize itself – so when one part fails, there lies the possibility for another to substitute – is an exciting discovery of the twentieth century. We now know that motor circuits once presumed to be hardwired are not, and motor-skill learning, exercise, and even mental rehearsal of motor tasks can turn genes on or off to shape brain architecture, function, and, consequently, behavior. This is a very significant alteration from our previously static view of the brain and has profound implications for the rescue of function after a motor injury. Presentation of the right cues, applied in relevant spatiotemporal geometries, is required to awaken the dormant plastic forces essential for repair. The focus of this review is to highlight some of the recent progress in neural interfaces designed to harness motor plasticity, and the role of miniaturization in development of strategies that engage diverse elements of the neuronal machinery to synergistically facilitate recovery of function after motor damage.
Highlights
The idea that neuronal maps in the motor cortex are in a constant state of flux can be traced back to the early 1900s when Charles Sherrington conducted a series of motor-mapping experiments and found that the response obtained from an individual cortical point varied over time
The molecular basis of motor plasticity lies in the activation of neurotransmitter receptors and associated second-messenger signaling pathways, which lead to cytoskeletal rearrangements [for reviews, see Kandel (2001) and Cingolani and Goda (2008)]
This review presents snapshots of the current state-of-the-art in electronic, optical, and chemical neural interfaces by highlighting several leading studies, followed by a discussion of their implications toward the development of next-generation hybrid devices for enhancing motor plasticity, and the contribution of the nanosciences to this enterprise
Summary
We know that motor circuits once presumed to be hardwired are not, and motor-skill learning, exercise, and even mental rehearsal of motor tasks can turn genes on or off to shape brain architecture, function, and, behavior. This is a very significant alteration from our previously static view of the brain and has profound implications for the rescue of function after a motor injury. The focus of this review is to highlight some of the recent progress in neural interfaces designed to harness motor plasticity, and the role of miniaturization in development of strategies that engage diverse elements of the neuronal machinery to synergistically facilitate recovery of function after motor damage
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
