Neural mechanisms associated with recovery of function following motor cortical lesions

Funded Activity Summary

Damage to movement control areas in the brain early in life (e.g. cerebral palsy) or in adulthood (e.g. stroke, tumours) results in motor weakness and loss of skill; over a period of many months there is gradual recovery of function. The neural mechanisms that are associated with functional reorganization of the brain and motor recovery are not well understood. This project plans to use animal experiments to identify the location of regions in the brain that undergo neural reorganization and compensate for lost function. Following brain lesions detailed mapping of the motor areas of the brain and a careful study of movement disabilities will be performed. The study will attempt to identify changes in motor maps that indicate neural reorganization and relate these changes to motor recovery. The results of this study will be used in future projects to test training programs, drugs and neural prosthesis on neural reorganization and recovery of function. Eventually the information may be used to direct pharmacological and physiotherapeutic interventions, and motor rehabilitation programs for optimal recovery of function.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2001

End Date: 01-01-2003

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $196,415.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Medical infection agents (incl. prions)

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Cortical lesions | Cortical stimulation | Head injury | Hemiplegic cerebral palsy | Motor cortex | Motor disability | Motor recovery | Motor rehabilitation | Neural plasticity | Stroke

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