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Neurorehabilitation Technology pp 57–69Cite as

Learning in the Damaged Brain/Spinal Cord: Neuroplasticity

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Abstract

Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of the central nervous system (CNS) to undergo persistent or lasting modifications to the function or structure of its elements. Neuroplasticity is a CNS mechanism that enables successful learning. Likely, it is also the mechanism by which recovery after CNS lesioning is possible. The chapter gives an overview of the phenomena that constitute plasticity and the cellular events leading to them. Evidence for neural plasticity in different regions of the brain and in the spinal cord is summarized in the contexts of learning, recovery, and rehabilitation therapy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Zurich, Frauenkliniksrasse 26, Zurich, 8091, Switzerland

    Andreas Luft

  2. Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 N. Broadway, Baltimore, 21205, MD, USA

    Amy J. Bastian

  3. Spinal Cord Injury Center, University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstr. 340, Zurich, 8008, Switzerland

    Volker Dietz

Authors
  1. Andreas Luft
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  2. Amy J. Bastian
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  3. Volker Dietz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andreas Luft .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Uniklinik Balgrist, Forchstr. 340, Zürich, 8008, Switzerland

    Volker Dietz

  2. , ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering, Universität Bern, Murtenstrasse 21, Bern, CH-3010, Switzerland

    Tobias Nef

  3. Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Illinois, 60611, USA

    William Zev Rymer

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Luft, A., Bastian, A.J., Dietz, V. (2012). Learning in the Damaged Brain/Spinal Cord: Neuroplasticity. In: Dietz, V., Nef, T., Rymer, W. (eds) Neurorehabilitation Technology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-2277-7_4

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