Spatial neglect in rodents: a model for studying neuroplasticity at the network level.

Diseases that afflict the brain, such as stroke, are associated with high morbidity for patients and their families and incur a tremendous burden to individuals and the society. Spatial neglect is a frequent consequence of brain damage, manifesting attentional deficits in perceiving and responding to stimuli in the contralesional field. Neglect affects roughly one third of stroke victims and greatly interferes with all daily activities, being one of the most disabling neurological syndromes. Despite partial recovery in the first months after stroke, yet poorly understood, one third of these patients remain severely disabled and require specific treatment. Although a number of treatments exist for human patients none is extremely successful, as we do not understand sufficiently the neural mechanisms underlying the disorder with multiple questions remaining to be addressed.To tackle some of these complicated issues, we propose to use a multimodal approach that combines functional magnetic resonance imaging, electrophysiology and stimulation of neuromodulatory nuclei in a rat model of spatial neglect. These state-of-the-art techniques will be applied after temporary and chronic focal lesions of central nodes of the neglect network in rats causing neglect like deficits that simulate the disorder in humans. Our proposal will significantly advance the understanding of the neural processes involved in neglect and specifically the role of functional connectivity at the neural circuit level. Furthermore, we will evaluate a novel and highly promising rehabilitation method that utilizes the role of neuromodulation in attentional processes by optogenetic stimulation of the cholinergic nucleus basalis of Meynert. If successful, this would provide a tremendous impact both in basic and clinical research and provide the basis for novel rehabilitative approaches in humans (e.g. by deep brain stimulation).

Keywords:FMRI, OPTOGENETICS, ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, RATS

Disciplines:Animal biology, General biology, Neurosciences, Veterinary medicine, Biological and physiological psychology, Cognitive science and intelligent systems, Developmental psychology and ageing