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PRODID:-//Memento EPFL//
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SUMMARY:Experience-dependent plasticity in amputees
DTSTART:20140912T130000
DTEND:20140912T140000
DTSTAMP:20260407T164009Z
UID:68dfc636e893b968a2be13e9605e9525400b2a1bd349318eea4cbcae
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Dr. Tamar Makin\, Dept. of Clinical Neurosciences\, Oxford Uni
 versity.\nAmputation is a particularly useful model for studying plasticit
 y as it combines two powerful drivers for plasticity – sensory deprivati
 on and altered use (adaptive motor behaviour compensational to the disabil
 ity). Yet little evidence exists for interaction between sensory deprivati
 on and use-related plasticity. Instead\, research on amputation has been m
 ostly restricted to maladaptive plasticity\, with a focus on phantom pain.
 \nHere we test the extent to which experience alters brain structure and f
 unction in individuals with unilateral hand absence\, using neuroimaging a
 pproaches. I will present evidence to challenge the proposed link between 
 cortical reorganisation and phantom pain\, and instead demonstrate preserv
 ed topographic representations of the missing (‘phantom’) hand. I will
  show that phantom pain is associated with maintained representation of th
 e phantom hand\, and not brain plasticity.\nI will further show that adapt
 ive behaviour in amputees can drive plasticity well beyond the “critical
  period” time-window\, though such plasticity may be restricted to the d
 eprived cortex. I will provide new evidence for the relationship between l
 ateralised limb-use patterns and lateralised structural and functional pla
 sticity. Based on these evidence\, I will suggest that plasticity in amput
 ees is experience-dependant\, and is not maladaptive.
LOCATION:SV1717a http://plan.epfl.ch/?room=SV%201717A
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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