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Cited by 1,259Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation StudiesNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms

Harnessing neuroplasticity for clinical applications

Open access
Cramer, S. C., Sur, M., Dobkin, B. H., O'Brien, C., Sanger, T. D., Trojanowski, J. Q., Rumsey, J. M., Hicks, R. +27 more·2011·Brain
DOI 10.1093/brain/awr039PMC PMC3102236
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Abstract

Neuroplasticity can be defined as the ability of the nervous system to respond to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, function and connections. Major advances in the understanding of neuroplasticity have to date yielded few established interventions. To advance the translation of neuroplasticity research towards clinical applications, the National Institutes of Health Blueprint for Neuroscience Research sponsored a workshop in 2009. Basic and clinical researchers in disciplines from central nervous system injury/stroke, mental/addictive disorders, paediatric/developmental disorders and neurodegeneration/ageing identified cardinal examples of neuroplasticity, underlying mechanisms, therapeutic implications and common denominators. Promising therapies that may enhance training-induced cognitive and motor learning, such as brain stimulation and neuropharmacological interventions, were identified, along with questions of how best to use this body of information to reduce human disability. Improved understanding of adaptive mechanisms at every level, from molecules to synapses, to networks, to behaviour, can be gained from iterative collaborations between basic and clinical researchers. Lessons can be gleaned from studying fields related to plasticity, such as development, critical periods, learning and response to disease. Improved means of assessing neuroplasticity in humans, including biomarkers for predicting and monitoring treatment response, are needed. Neuroplasticity occurs with many variations, in many forms, and in many contexts. However, common themes in plasticity that emerge across diverse central nervous system conditions include experience dependence, time sensitivity and the importance of motivation and attention. Integration of information across disciplines should enhance opportunities for the translation of neuroplasticity and circuit retraining research into effective clinical therapies.

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  • tDCS combined with cognitive training may yield larger and long-lasting functional improvements that modify the impaired system.

    “yielding larger and long-lasting functional improvements that modify the impaired system (Cramer et al., 2011).”

    From Cognitive Neuroscience of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Its Clinical Translation (2018) · cites this paper as Cramer et al., 2011

    The Non-invasive brain stimulation section (page unavailable) says that combining neuromodulation with a behavioural intervention may increase its efficacy and that stimulation effects can outlast stimulation. The Cognitive training section describes a goal of driving adaptive changes in dysfunctional neural systems. The paper does not establish that tDCS combined specifically with cognitive training yields larger, long-lasting functional improvements. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • External factors change the ways our brains operate, including neuronal structures and functions, as indicated by neuroplasticity studies.

    “while these same external factors change the ways our brains operate, including neuronal structures and functions, as indicated by studies into neuroplasticity (Fuchs and Flügge 2014;Cramer et al. 2011).”

    From Authenticity and Love Drugs: Insights from Psychedelic Therapy (2026) · cites this paper as Cramer et al. 2011

  • In the nervous system, integrins are essential molecules for neuroplasticity.

    “In the nervous system, integrins are essential molecules for neuroplasticity, i.e. the ability to adapt to internal and external stimuli by reorganizing its structure, function and connections [49].”

    From Gene expression profiles underlying aggressive behavior in the prefrontal cortex of cattle (2021) · cites this paper as [49]

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Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. [1]1. neural measurements, but also community function, quality of life, and the subjective experience of the individual. Workshop participants Workshop co-chairs: Steven C. Cramer, University of California, Irvine; Mriganka Sur, MIT, Judith Rumsey, NIMH. Adult trauma and stroke working group: Bruce Dobkin, UCLA and Daofen Chen, NINDS (co-chairs);
  2. [38]38. Cohen LG, Weeks RA, Sadato N, Celnik P, Ishii K, Hallett M. Period of susceptibility for cross-modal plasticity in the blind. Ann Neurol 1999; 45: 451-60.
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  4. [114]114. Jay TM, Rocher C, Hotte M, Naudon L, Gurden H, Spedding M. Plasticity at hippocampal to prefrontal cortex synapses is impaired by loss of dopa- mine and stress. Neurotoxicity Research 2004; 6: 223-244.
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  7. [213]213. Stokes TF, Baer DM. An implicit technology of generalization. J Appl Behav Anal 1977; 10: 349-67.
  8. [221]221. Temple R. A regulatory authority's opinion about surrogate endpoints. In: Nimmo W, Tucker G, editors. Clinical Measurement in Drug Evaluation. New York: J. Wiley; 1995.

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Authors
Cramer, S. C., Sur, M., Dobkin, B. H., O'Brien, C., Sanger, T. D., Trojanowski, J. Q., Rumsey, J. M., Hicks, R., Cameron, J., Chen, D., Chen, W. G., Cohen, L. G., deCharms, C., Duffy, C. J., Eden, G. F., Fetz, E. E., Filart, R., Freund, M., Grant, S. J., Haber, S., Kalivas, P. W., Kolb, B., Kramer, A. F., Lynch, M., Mayberg, H. S., McQuillen, P. S., Nitkin, R., Pascual-Leone, A., Reuter-Lorenz, P., Schiff, N., Sharma, A., Shekim, L., Stryker, M., Sullivan, E. V., & Vinogradov, S.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Irvine (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • University of Southern California (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • Oregon Health & Science University (US)
  • Omneuron (United States) (US)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (US)
  • Medical University of South Carolina (US)
  • University of Lethbridge (CA)
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
  • Emory University (US)
  • University of Colorado Boulder (US)
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
Corresponding author
Cramer, S. C.
ORCID
Venue
Brain
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2011-04-10
Volume
134
Issue
6
Pages
1591-1609
ISSN
  • 0006-8950 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2156
DOI
10.1093/brain/awr039
PMC
PMC3102236
OpenAlex
W2107022859
Cited by
1,259
References
228
Citations by year
2026: 92 · 2025: 116 · 2024: 93 · 2023: 89 · 2022: 99 · 2021: 93 · 2020: 130 · 2019: 80 · 2018: 53 · 2017: 79 · 2016: 69 · 2015: 69 · 2014: 85 · 2013: 58 · 2012: 43
FWCI
34.98
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Pfizer
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Gilead Sciences
  • National Institutes of Health
  • Allergan
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R37AA010723, K05AA017168)
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG036682, R37AG025667)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD069381)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
Keywords
neuroplasticity, clinical translation, brain stimulation, stroke, central nervous system injury, mental illness, addiction, neurodegeneration, aging, experience-dependent plasticity, critical period, treatment response biomarkers, disability reduction
MeSH terms
Aging, Animals, Brain Diseases, Cognition Disorders, Humans, Neuronal Plasticity, Recovery of Function, Stroke, Biomedical Research

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