Plasticity and functional connectivities in rehabilitation

While the clinical and neuropathological evaluation of neurological compromise has traditionally concentrated upon the focal distribution of brain disease, ignored have been the changes in the complex connections that link brain areas that are crucial for cognition and optimized human performance. An overview of some recent developments in the field of Rehabilitation Engineering will be provided that will indicate why successful solutions to fundamental human function deficits in the disabled result from attempts to find solutions to these difficulties by optimizing human performance and by asking the right questions. We will examine the nature of nervous system plasticity, man-machine interactions, the nature of functional connectivities in the nervous system, and the application of systems theory to highlight potential solutions to intractable problems such as persistent vegetative and minimally conscious states, Parkinson’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome, Major Depression and motor function and dysfunction in general from a systems standpoint informing the nature of R&D in applications that include deep brain stimulation, prosthetic limb and orthotics development to better understand the concept of functional neurology both developmentally and in adult populations.