Abstract

Reductions in blood flow to the brain of sufficient duration and extent lead to stroke, which results in damage to neuronal networks and the impairment of sensation, movement or cognition. Evidence from animal models suggests that a time-limited window of neuroplasticity opens following a stroke, during which the greatest gains in recovery occur. Plasticity mechanisms include activity-dependent rewiring and synapse strengthening. The challenge for improving stroke recovery is to understand how to optimally engage and modify surviving neuronal networks, to provide new response strategies that compensate for tissue lost to injury.

Author affiliations

1. Kinsmen Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia.
2. Brain Research Center, University of British Columbia.
3. Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
   Email: thmurphy@interchange.ubc.ca
4. Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, A1B 3V6, Canada.
   Email: corbett@mun.ca

Published online 4 November 2009