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Anatomically Inspired Three-dimensional Micro-tissue Engineered Neural Networks for Nervous System Reconstruction, Modulation, and Modeling
Published on: May 31, 2017
Is it possible to restore function with two percent surviving neural tissue?
1Departments of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Medicine, and of Biomedical Engineering, 1300 University Avenue, Room 2756, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. pbachyri@wisc.edu
Abstract:
How much surviving normal neural tissue is required for functional reorganization after a lesion? Clinical and experimental studies suggest that at little as two percent remaining tissue may be sufficient, at least in some cases, for functional reorganization. Recent sensory substitution studies with persons who have been diagnosed with total vestibular loss (e.g., due to an ototoxic reaction to an antibiotic) suggest that the persisting function after removal of the substitution system may be related to the survival of a small amount of vestibular tissue.

