4.7 Review

From symmetry to chaos and back: Understanding and imaging the mechanisms of neural repair after stroke

Journal

LIFE SCIENCES
Volume 288, Issue -, Pages -

Publisher

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120161

Keywords

Stroke; Brain-injury; MRI; Recovery; Graph theory; Network; Functional connectivity; Neurons

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Neuroscience has made significant progress in understanding the mechanism of stroke and post-stroke recovery. This review article focuses on advanced neuroimaging technologies and the concept of axonal sprouting. It discusses the importance of functional connectivity in stroke recovery and highlights the differences in neuronal network organization between healthy brains and post-stroke brains. The article emphasizes the critical role of imaging methods in understanding the mechanisms of functional recovery and their potential applications in clinical settings.
Neuroscience has made strides in recent years allowing us insight into the workings of the brain - from the molecular to the regional anatomy. These insights have given researchers an advantage in seeking novel therapies for neurological disorders, specifically stroke. Yet despite these discoveries, many aspects of stroke remain poorly understood - specifically post-stroke recovery. This review article seeks to outline cutting-edge neuroimaging technologies, and the current level of understanding of neurological repair after stroke, with the main focus on the mechanism of axonal sprouting. Neuronal connectivity has varying levels of complexity that allow neuronal networks to process information and give rise to our day-to-day functioning. As stroke causes the death of groups of regional neurons, it is likely that the reestablishment of function seen in some stroke patients is related to shifting patterns of functional connectivity. This paper touches on the timeline and limits on the amount of functional recovery, as well as the differences in organization of neuronal networks in a healthy versus post stroke brain. Finally, we discuss how the previously mentioned methods of imaging are critical in understanding the mechanisms of functional recovery. The mechanism of axonal sprouting and its theorized different types are explained, along with potential ways of imaging them in rodents. The hope is that, with a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying brain recovery, researchers can apply this knowledge to better help stroke patients and be of use in clinical settings.

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