Peripheral and Spinal Plasticity after Nerve Injuries

© 2013 The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. All rights reserved. Peripheral nerves contain several types of nerve fibers, serving different functions. Peripheral nerve injuries induce a cascade of events, at the molecular, cellular, and system levels, that support axonal regeneration and target reinnervation in the periphery, but also imply plastic changes at the spinal cord and the brain. Mechanisms involved in these changes include alterations of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic connections, sprouting of new connections, and reorganization of sensory and motor maps in the nervous system. All these changes have to be considered when attempting to interact with the injured nervous system for rehabilitation strategies.