Functional recovery with and without training following brain damage in experimental animals: a review

Review of observations on experimental animals following brain damage shows that some functions may recover spontaneously and functional accomplishment can be increased by training even with unchanged reflex status. Training consists of a combination of two basic techniques: forced use of the impaired body part, and instrumental conditional relfexes. The possible mechanisms of recovery include restoration by an alternative pathway, compensation through complicated interactions among brain structures and, with training, activation of a parallel system essential to conditioned responses. Factors, such as motivation and emotion, may complicate the course of recovery. Results of recovery with training in experimental animals strongly indicate that such training can play an active and specific role in functional improvement following brain damage in man. Future development of rehabilitation medicine in this direction is suggested.