Plasticity and the Spinal Dorsal Horn (with Notes on Homologous Regions of the Trigeminal Nuclei)

Abstract

Although there is a vast literature on the anatomy and physiology of the dorsal horn, much of this is controversial. As much as anything, this reflects the rapid growth of our knowledge of the functioning of this neuronal system over the past two decades. As in other parts of the somatosensory system, many attempts to demonstrate plasticity in the dorsal horn have predated the acquisition of important data concerning the functional and structural organization of that region in normal animals. Thus, we have briefly reviewed relevant aspects of this knowledge and brought these to bear, where possible, upon the many and diverse studies that relate to plasticity.