Abstract:
An important development in behavioral neuroscience in the past 20 years has been the
demonstration that it is possible to stimulate functional recovery after cerebral injury in
laboratory animals. Rodent models of cerebral injury provide an important tool for developing
such rehabilitation programs. The models include analysis at different levels including detailed
behavioral paradigms, electrophysiology, neuronal morphology, protein chemistry, and
epigenetics. A significant challenge for the next 20 years will be the translation of this work to
improve the outcome from brain injury and disease in humans. Our goal in the article will be to
synthesize the multidisciplinary laboratory work on brain plasticity and behavior in the injured
brain to inform the development of rehabilitation programs.