Age-dependent capacity for somatosensory cortex reorganization in chronic spinal cats.
Primary somatosensory cortex was mapped in chronic spinal cats that were spinalized (T12) at two weeks and 6 weeks of age. The magnitude of cortical reorganization is age-dependent. In cats spinalized at two weeks, extensive reorganization of the deafferented hindlimb region resulted in a second complete map of intact tactile input from the trunk and forelimb, while in cats transected at 6 weeks of age, trunk afferent input only partially activated the deafferented hindlimb region.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002415:Cats; D003655:Decerebrate State; D004594:Electrophysiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*