Realistic computer simulation of cortical lesion induced imbalances in properties of somatotopic maps

Cortical structures can be affected by lesions which may produce imbalances in properties of organization of cortical representations. Studies of imba lances in properties of somatotopic maps induced by cortical lesions have b een performed in a model of the somatosensory system constructed with the n eurosimulator GENESIS as a system with 512 tactile receptors representing t he hand surface connected to 1024 excitatory cells and 512 inhibitory cells . The model reproduces processes of formation and maintenance of somatotopi c maps and the results obtained involve cortical reorganization after destr uction of neurons together with blockage of synaptic channels or membrane a lterations according to experimental data. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.