Neural networks and reorganization as a basis
for rehab of movement disorders
Introduction
Goals
• What is plasticity
• Neural basis of motor learning
• Ageing brain, stroke-a:ected brain, Parkinson’s disease
• Mechanisms of neural recovery – ranging from neural reorganization to compensation
• Critical appraisal of neuroscientific methods for studying the human brain
• Evidence on non-invasive neurostimulation as potential rehab tool
• Scientific attitude to literature and concepts of neurorehabilitation
• Translate knowledge to the neurorehabilitation field
Not relevant to know
• Cited studies: name of authors, years of publication, exact title, exact number of participants
or age ranges....
• Result figures of cited publications: be able to convey/ draw the main message that is
visualized
Exam
Written exam
• Kaat: 2 questions with MC-like structure + clarify
• Moran: open-end questions
Neuroscientific methods
Content
• Measuring ‘brain activity’ at the systems level (not single-cell)
• Non-invasive (not ‘inside’ the brain, but at the level of the skull)
• Fundamental/clinical research
• How applied in clinical settings
How to study
• Understand each technique
o Underlying neural mechanism
o How measurements are performed
• Know the advantages and disadvantages of the techniques
• Know terms/ abbreviations associated with each technique (fMRI, BOLD, EEG, TMS, rTMS, DTI,
MEP, ERP, EPSP, FA, Hb, alpha, theta...)
• Be able to draw figures of relevant concepts (e.g. Draw MEP, BOLD response...)
Neuroscientific methods
• MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• dMRI: di:usion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• FNIRS: Functional Near-InfraRed Spectroscopy
• EEG: Electro-EncephaloGraphy
• TMS: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
,à Equipment
à Neurophysiological basis
à Examples of applications
Temporal scale: how precise is time
Spatial scale: how precise is location
Green circle: high spatial, low temporal
scale
MRI
What is MRI not?
Bumpology
• Feeling the skull and looking for bumps
• Nonsense
à Central idea persisted: localization of function (specialized regions in the brain)
Mind-reading
,Invasive
What is MRI?
Modalities
MRI à brain anatomy
• White and grey matter
fMRI: functional à brain activity
• Recruiting of di:erent regions
fcMRI: functional connectivity
• Communication between brain regions
History of MRI (no learning material)
Development in early 2000
Normal MRI
Biological basis of MRI
Former name: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging
à nothing to do with radiation, but with relation with protons
, Protons: positively charged + have a spin (they turn around)
à Have a small, but measurable magnetic field
Mostly found in water and fat tissue
• Single molecule of water (H2O) has 10 protons (1 from each hydrogen and from oxygen)
• Eg: water cube of 2x2x5mm contains: 6x1015 protons (quadrillion)
• A lot of water in body à a lot of protons
Magnetic field
Strong magnetic field B0 that aligns the protons
Rest MRI
Majority of atoms aligns in parallel with B0
à Net magnetization of protons in direction of B0
for rehab of movement disorders
Introduction
Goals
• What is plasticity
• Neural basis of motor learning
• Ageing brain, stroke-a:ected brain, Parkinson’s disease
• Mechanisms of neural recovery – ranging from neural reorganization to compensation
• Critical appraisal of neuroscientific methods for studying the human brain
• Evidence on non-invasive neurostimulation as potential rehab tool
• Scientific attitude to literature and concepts of neurorehabilitation
• Translate knowledge to the neurorehabilitation field
Not relevant to know
• Cited studies: name of authors, years of publication, exact title, exact number of participants
or age ranges....
• Result figures of cited publications: be able to convey/ draw the main message that is
visualized
Exam
Written exam
• Kaat: 2 questions with MC-like structure + clarify
• Moran: open-end questions
Neuroscientific methods
Content
• Measuring ‘brain activity’ at the systems level (not single-cell)
• Non-invasive (not ‘inside’ the brain, but at the level of the skull)
• Fundamental/clinical research
• How applied in clinical settings
How to study
• Understand each technique
o Underlying neural mechanism
o How measurements are performed
• Know the advantages and disadvantages of the techniques
• Know terms/ abbreviations associated with each technique (fMRI, BOLD, EEG, TMS, rTMS, DTI,
MEP, ERP, EPSP, FA, Hb, alpha, theta...)
• Be able to draw figures of relevant concepts (e.g. Draw MEP, BOLD response...)
Neuroscientific methods
• MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• dMRI: di:usion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• FNIRS: Functional Near-InfraRed Spectroscopy
• EEG: Electro-EncephaloGraphy
• TMS: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
,à Equipment
à Neurophysiological basis
à Examples of applications
Temporal scale: how precise is time
Spatial scale: how precise is location
Green circle: high spatial, low temporal
scale
MRI
What is MRI not?
Bumpology
• Feeling the skull and looking for bumps
• Nonsense
à Central idea persisted: localization of function (specialized regions in the brain)
Mind-reading
,Invasive
What is MRI?
Modalities
MRI à brain anatomy
• White and grey matter
fMRI: functional à brain activity
• Recruiting of di:erent regions
fcMRI: functional connectivity
• Communication between brain regions
History of MRI (no learning material)
Development in early 2000
Normal MRI
Biological basis of MRI
Former name: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging
à nothing to do with radiation, but with relation with protons
, Protons: positively charged + have a spin (they turn around)
à Have a small, but measurable magnetic field
Mostly found in water and fat tissue
• Single molecule of water (H2O) has 10 protons (1 from each hydrogen and from oxygen)
• Eg: water cube of 2x2x5mm contains: 6x1015 protons (quadrillion)
• A lot of water in body à a lot of protons
Magnetic field
Strong magnetic field B0 that aligns the protons
Rest MRI
Majority of atoms aligns in parallel with B0
à Net magnetization of protons in direction of B0
