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Brain adapts to injury with backup teams: study

Written by: QMI Agency
Jan. 16, 2013

(CLIPAREA.com/Fotolia)

Scientists have determined exactly how the human brain adapts after an injury.

Using a combination of imaging methods, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh found that when one brain area loses functionality, a team of secondary brain areas immediately steps up to replace it.

"It is now clear how the brain can naturally rebound from injuries and gives us indications of how individuals can train their brains to be prepared for easier recovery," researcher Marcel Just said. "The secret is to develop alternative thinking styles, the way a switch-hitter develops alternative batting styles. Then, if a muscle in one arm is injured, they can use the batting style that relies more on the uninjured arm."

For the study, researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging to determine how the brains of 16 healthy adults adapted to the temporary incapacitation of the Wernicke area, the region of the brain used in language comprehension.

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