Theoretical model of neuroprosthetic treatment approach after brain injury. Likewise, plasticity of brain interconnections may partially underlie recovery of function after injury ( 3).įig. It is now recognized that not only are discrete regions of the brain damaged in injury or disease but, perhaps more importantly, the interconnections among uninjured areas are disrupted, potentially leading to many of the functional impairments that persist after brain injury ( 2). Although mechanistic details are still under refinement, synchronous discharge of neurons in widespread areas of the cerebral cortex appears to be an emergent property of neuronal networks that functionally couple remote locations ( 1). New evidence from neurophysiological and neuroanatomical experiments in animals, as well as neuroimaging studies in humans, now suggests that normal brain function can be best appreciated in the context of the complex arrangements of functional and structural interconnections among brain areas. The view of the brain as a collection of independent anatomical modules, each with discrete functions, is currently undergoing radical change. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that neural interface systems can be used effectively to bridge damaged neural pathways functionally and promote recovery after brain injury. Post hoc analysis of the spikes evoked by the stimulation provides compelling evidence that the neural prosthesis enhanced functional connectivity between the two target areas. Within 1 wk, while receiving spike-triggered stimulation, rats showed substantially improved reaching and grasping functions that were indistinguishable from prelesion levels by 2 wk. After implantation of microelectrodes in cerebral cortex, a neural prosthesis discriminated action potentials (spikes) in premotor cortex that triggered electrical stimulation in somatosensory cortex continuously over subsequent weeks.
The primary motor area in the cerebral cortex was injured in a rat model of focal brain injury, disrupting communication between motor and somatosensory areas and resulting in impaired reaching and grasping abilities. This paper tests the hypothesis that recovery after brain injury can be facilitated by a neural prosthesis serving as a communication link between distant locations in the cerebral cortex. Neural interface systems are becoming increasingly more feasible for brain repair strategies.
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