Randolph J. Nudo, Ph.D.

Neural Mechanisms of Recovery After Stroke

Research in Dr. Nudo’s laboratory focuses on neural mechanisms of repair after brain injury, using modern electrophysiological, neuroanatomical and behavioral techniques. Currently I am studying the capacity for functional plasticity in primary motor cortex of adult primates. Recent experiments have demonstrated that the functional organization of cerebral cortex is alterable throughout life. Plastic changes in cortical "maps" may reflect basic adaptive processes underlying functional recovery from brain injury, learning and memory. Recently, his group demonstrated unprecedented neuroanatomical rewiring in intact cortical regions after focal injury. His laboratory is also investigating the use of drug-based and device-based interventions for post-stroke recovery. Thus, this research program has great significance for the development of future rehabilitation approaches that are based on the underlying principles of brain plasticity.