Researchers Help Mice Recover from Stroke by ‘Rewiring’ Their Brains

Johns Hopkins researchers have found that mice can recover from physically debilitating strokes that damage the primary motor cortex, the region of the brain that controls most movement in the body, if the rodents are quickly subjected to physical conditioning that rapidly “rewires” a different part of the brain to take over lost function. Their research — featuring precise, intense and early treatment, and tantalizing clues to the role of a specific brain area in stroke recovery — is described online in the journal Stroke.

“Despite all of our approved therapies, stroke patients still have a high likelihood of ending up with deficits,” says study leader Steven R. Zeiler, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “This research allows us the opportunity to test meaningful training and pharmacological ways to encourage recovery of function, and should impact the care of patients.” For more information, click here to read the full release.