Plasticity and reorganization of the brain post stroke.
Reorganization of the cortex post stroke is dependent not only on the lesion site but also on remote brain areas that have structural connections with the area damaged by the stroke. Motor recovery is largely dependent on the intact cortex adjacent to the infarct, which points out the importance of preserving the penumbral areas. There appears to be a priority setting with contralateral and ipsilateral motor pathways, with ipsilateral (unaffected hemisphere) pathways only becoming prominent after more severe strokes where functional contralateral (affected hemisphere) pathways are unable to recover. Ipsilateral or unaffected hemisphere motor pathway activation is therefore associated with a worse prognosis.
Teasell
Robert
R
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, St. Joseph's Health Care and the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Bayona
Nestor A
NA
Bitensky
Jamie
J
D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D011379:Prognosis; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation