Neural regeneration therapy after spinal cord injury induces unique brain functional reorganizations in rhesus monkeys

This study investigates how the brain reorganizes itself after spinal cord injury (SCI) and after treatment aimed at regenerating spinal cord tissue. Researchers used fMRI to observe brain activity in monkeys with SCI who either experienced spontaneous recovery or received neurotrophin-3/chitosan treatment to promote regeneration. The study found that the brain reorganizes differently depending on whether the recovery is spontaneous or induced by regenerative therapy, suggesting that treatment strategies should consider these unique changes.

• 1
  Spontaneous recovery after SCI follows a pattern of early intra-hemispheric reorganization followed by late inter-hemispheric reorganization, while regenerative therapy shows the opposite trend.
• 2
  Injured animals involved a larger number of subcortical regions in abnormal causal interactions compared to the treated animals.
• 3
  Regenerative therapy leads to a distinct pattern of brain functional reorganization compared to spontaneous recovery after spinal cord injury.