title: Restoration of function after brain damage using a neural prosthesis.
abstract: Neural interface systems are becoming increasingly more feasible for brain repair strategies. This paper tests the hypothesis that recovery after brain injury can be facilitated by a neural prosthesis serving as a communication link between distant locations in the cerebral cortex. The primary motor area in the cerebral cortex was injured in a rat model of focal brain injury, disrupting communication between motor and somatosensory areas and resulting in impaired reaching and grasping abilities. After implantation of microelectrodes in cerebral cortex, a neural prosthesis discriminated action potentials (spikes) in premotor cortex that triggered electrical stimulation in somatosensory cortex continuously over subsequent weeks. Within 1 wk, while receiving spike-triggered stimulation, rats showed substantially improved reaching and grasping functions that were indistinguishable from prelesion levels by 2 wk. Post hoc analysis of the spikes evoked by the stimulation provides compelling evidence that the neural prosthesis enhanced functional connectivity between the two target areas. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that neural interface systems can be used effectively to bridge damaged neural pathways functionally and promote recovery after brain injury.
authors: Departments of Molecular and Integrative Physiology and Biostatistics, and Landon Center on Aging, Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160.
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Guggenmos
authors: Meysam
authors: M
authors: Azin
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Barbay
authors: Jonathan D
authors: JD
authors: Mahnken
authors: Caleb
authors: C
authors: Dunham
authors: Pedram
authors: P
authors: Mohseni
authors: Randolph J
authors: RJ
authors: Nudo
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D062207:Brain-Computer Interfaces; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D058117:Neural Prostheses; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans
keywords: brain–machine–brain interface; closed-loop; long-term potentiation; neural plasticity; traumatic brain injury