Mouse Brain Rewires Its Neural Circuits To Recuperate From Damaged Neural Function After Stroke

The research group, led by Professor Junichi Nabekura of the National Institute for Physiological Sciences, investigated how neural circuits rearrange themselves after cerebral strokes by using two-photon laser microscopy in vivo. In one to two weeks after strokes in the right side of the moue brain, the left side of the brain rearranged its neural circuits actively. After three to four weeks, the left side of the brain started to receive sensory information from the left leg that is usually received by the right side of the brain.

The researchers concluded that the stroke in the right side of the brain activated the rearrangement of the neural circuits in the left side of the brain, and then these rearrangements helped to recuperate from stroke-induced damaged neural function.

“We found that the active rearrangement of the neural circuits in the opposite side of the brain happens only in the specific period after strokes. Our findings can be applied to rehabilitative programs for stroke survivors,” said Professor Nabekura.

The Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) supported this study. They report their finding in Journal of Neuroscience, on August 12, 2009.