Article

Tactile experiences remodel the central nervous system representations of the body surface. The results of assessments of ten peripheral manipulations that reveal different aspects of representational plasticity are reviewed: 1) chronic peripheral denervation; 2) surgical amputation; 3) digital syndactyly and its natural behavioral equivalents; 4) peripheral nerve crush with reinnervation; 5) peripheral nerve transection and repair, with reinnervation; 6) denervation of very large skin surfaces, for very long times; 7) electrical stimulation of large-fiber afferents in the median nerve, simulating electroacupuncture; 8) implantation of always-innervated island pedicle flaps; 9) behavioral training with locationally invariant stimuli; and 10) behavioral training with moving stimuli. Focus is on the changes recorded in a primary somatosensory cortical field, area 3b, following these ten manipulations, in adult monkeys. On the basis of these findings, the following are discussed : 1) how altered schedules of activity from the skin contribute to cortical representational remodeling; 2) other factors that influence the representational remodeling; 3) where the remodeling actually occurs: and 4) some implications of these findings for sensory rehabilitation.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Identifiant basis : 1993001579