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Mechanisms underlying human motor system plasticity
Author(s) -
Boroojerdi Babak,
Ziemann Ulf,
Chen Robert,
Bütefisch Cathrin M.,
Cohen Leonardo G.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.1045
Subject(s) - neuroscience , plasticity , neuroplasticity , sensory system , developmental plasticity , motor cortex , synaptic plasticity , motor system , human brain , metaplasticity , nervous system , cerebral cortex , biology , psychology , stimulation , biochemistry , physics , receptor , thermodynamics
Abstract There has been increased interest in the ability of the adult human nervous system to reorganize and adapt to environmental changes throughout life. This ability has been termed “plasticity.” Plastic changes in the cerebral cortex have been studied: (a) as modifications of sensory or motor cortical representation of specific body parts (cortical maps, body representation level); and (b) as changes in the efficacy of existing synapses or generation of new synapses (neuronal or synaptic level). In this review, we describe paradigms used to study mechanisms of plasticity in the intact human motor system, the functional relevance of such plasticity, and possible ways to modulate it. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 602–613, 2001