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Timecourse for receptive field plasticity following spinal cord hemisection
Brain Research
|November 21, 1983
Summary
Spinal cord injury in cats causes hindlimb receptive fields to enlarge. This study pinpoints the expansion to 10-14 days after surgery, revealing critical timing for neural plasticity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Spinal Cord Injury Research
- Neural Plasticity
Background:
- Partial spinal cord hemisection causes changes in neuronal receptive fields.
- Previous work showed enlargement of receptive fields between 5 days and 3 months post-injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the precise timing of receptive field enlargement after spinal cord hemisection.
- To investigate the temporal dynamics of neural plasticity in the dorsal horn following injury.
Main Methods:
- Somatotopic mapping procedures were applied bilaterally in cats.
- The study focused on neurons in the ipsilateral L7 dorsal horn.
Main Results:
- Receptive field enlargement in the proximal hindlimb occurred between 10 and 14 days postoperatively.
- This timeframe is critical for the observed changes in neuronal representation.
Conclusions:
- The expansion of receptive fields following spinal cord hemisection is a time-sensitive process.
- Understanding this timing is crucial for developing effective neuro-rehabilitation strategies.