Cortical Plasticity and Behavioral Recovery following Focal Lesion to Primary Motor Cortex in Adult Rats

..................................................................................................iii DEDICATION.................................................................................................v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................................................................vi TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................viii LIST OF TABLES.............................................................................................xi LIST OF FIGURES...........................................................................................xi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS..............................................................................xiv CHAPTER ONE: Introduction Organization of Motor Cortex...............................................................................2 Motor Cortical Functional Plasticity...................................................................11 Neural Consequences of Cortical Injury ...............................................................17 Behavioral Consequences of Experimental Cortical Injury.......................................19 Resolution of Diaschisis as a Mechanism of Functional Recovery..............................22 Adaptive Plasticity (Vicariation) as a Mechanism of Functional Recovery..................24 Behavioral Compensation as a Mechanism of Functional Recovery...........................26 Neurorehabilitation after TBI and Stroke...............................................................28