INPCFMP · The Impact of Neural plasticity on the crossed facilitation of motor pathways
6РП — Действия „Мария Кюри“
- Период
- 2007-08-29 → 2009-08-28
- Финансиране от ЕС
- 80 000 €
- Участници
- 1
- Схема
- IRG
Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.
Накратко на български
Невронната пластичност се изследва чрез стимулиране на мозъка и съкращаване на мускули от едната страна на тялото, за да се активират съответните мускули на другата страна. Това може да помогне за възстановяване на двигателните функции при хора с парализа след инсулт.
Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.
Резултати накратко
Final Activity Report Summary - INPCFMP (The Impact of Neural Plasticity on the Crossed Facilitation of Motor Pathways)
The central aim of the research project was to investigate the clinical potential of novel techniques that permit changes in neural plasticity induced by non-invasive cortical stimulation to be restricted to the parts of the brain that control specific muscles in the upper limb. Crossed facilitation refers to the phenomenon whereby focal contractions of the muscles on one side of the body give rise to increases in the excitability of the pathways that project to the homologous muscles on the opposite side of the body. Research that was undertaken in the course of the project represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstrations that this 'crossed facilitation' can be used to enhance, and focus in relation to specific muscles, the changes in brain activity induced by non-invasive cortical stimulation. All of the work performed during the course of the project was conducted with young neurologically intact adults. If similar focussed changes in cortical excitability can be invoked in stroke survivors, they are likely to be of therapeutic significance, particularly for those with severe upper limb paresis. In related clinical trials, my research group has shown that even small levels of initial voluntary activity can be used as the basis for a progressive training program that promotes profound recovery of function. In future extensions of the research undertaken during the project we will seek to establish whether in stroke survivors, simultaneous contractions performed by the non-paretic limb increase the reliability and muscle specificity of changes in the excitability of corticospinal projections to the impaired limb, that are induced by non-invasive brain stimulation techniques.
Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз
Цел на проекта
Each year approximately 1 million people living in the countries of the EU suffer a stroke. In Western Europe stroke is the third most common cause of death, whereas in the EU Enlargement countries it is the most frequent cause.Mortality data however tend to underestimate the true burden of stroke to European society, as the major outcome is disability rather than death. Stroke accounts for 23% of all chronic disability in Europe. The search for effective strategies of rehabilitation has therefore become m ore pressing.The ease with which we perform tasks in which the two hands execute quite different actions belies the fact that there is a strong tendency for movements of the limbs to be drawn together. These findings are not simply of academic interest. The systematic nature of these interactions has given rise to the expectation that for stroke survivors, functional improvements in the control of a paretic limb may be realised when movements are performed in a bimanual context.Recent research has also suggested that the adult brain retains an extensive facility to undergo adaptive change or reorganisation. This capacity is referred to as neural plasticity. Among health care professionals and scientists alike, it is now recognised that plasticity is a critical precursor for the recovery of motor function following brain injury.It is also increasingly apparent that in order to capitalise fully upon neural plasticity, it is necessary to utilise movement-based therapeutic interventions in order to drive recovery of function. The aim of the proposed project is to increase our understanding of interventions that enhance plasticity and alter the sensitivity of the cortex to the additional neural inputs generated by movement of the opposite limb.This strategic basic research will have direct application to acquired movement deficits such as stroke, and will provide principled bases upon which to develop task and deficit specific programs of movement rehabilitation.
Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).
Участници
- QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST · BELFASTКоординаторОбединеното кралство
Връзки
Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз