SLOKA IYENGAR
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My pup's movement and Episode 2 of Vichaar

5/13/2022

1 Comment

 
My Pup's movement and Episode 2 of Vichaar 
  • I hope you enjoyed Episode 2 of Vichaar where I talk about: 
    • The types of movements and movement patterns in Bharatanatyam 
    • The complexity of movement 
    • How the brain perceives movement, and it is this perception of movement that shapes our reality 
​So what does my Pup have to do with all this? 
Pup is a "tripawd" and he's missing his right hind leg. As you can see from the video above though, he has adjusted to having three legs and walks just fine. However, there is a shift in the way he walks, as his center of gravity has now changed. Isn't it amazing that his body and brain have compensated for the loss of his leg? This plasticity is what makes our brains remarkable!
​Neural plasticity is the capacity that all of our brains have for (structural and functional) change in response to experience and injury [1]. In Episode 2 of Vichaar, we looked at how the motor cortex is responsible for movement. Studies in people with amputations have shown a remarkable capacity for reorganization of the motor cortex and of other cortical areas such as the somatosensory cortex [2]. It is this reorganization of the nervous system that helps Pup in walking even with three legs.
​
How does plasticity impact movement in your life? 
What role does plasticity play when you are trying to learn a new step or a new way of doing things? ​ 

Citations:
  1. von Bernhardi R, Bernhardi LE, Eugenín J. What Is Neural Plasticity? Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;1015:1-15. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-62817-2_1. PMID: 29080018. Link 
  2. Jain N, Qi HX, Collins CE, Kaas JH. Large-scale reorganization in the somatosensory cortex and thalamus after sensory loss in macaque monkeys. J Neurosci. 2008 Oct 22;28(43):11042-60. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2334-08.2008. PMID: 18945912; PMCID: PMC2613515. Link 
1 Comment
Carol A Schachter
5/13/2022 03:35:37 pm

I had cataract surgery on one of my two eyes and now I have total clarity. But if I cup my hands over each eye individually, I can know at once which eye was "done" and which wasn't. It's amazing how the brain allows both eyes to work together so well. When my other eye is "ripe" for cataract surgery, then I'll do it to complete the process. But for now, everything is crystal clear!

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    About Sloka 

    My name is Sloka.  I am a neuroscientist and dancer; you can find more about me here. 

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Last updated: January 27, 2023
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  • About me
    • Profile
    • Service
    • Invited talks and interviews
    • Contact me
  • Science
    • Science consulting
    • Global health >
      • Capacity building in global health >
        • Capacity building through leadership
        • Disaster relief
      • Mental health
      • Aging and palliative care
      • Neurological disorders
    • Clinical science
    • Preclinical science
    • Science advocacy >
      • Advocacy activities
      • ABC newsletters
    • Patient communication and advocacy >
      • Patient communication and advocacy (articles)
    • Science education
    • Publications
    • Awards
    • Continuing education
  • Dance
    • Dance resume >
      • Pictures and videos
      • Community engagement
    • Vichaar >
      • Vichaar: Episode 1 transcript
      • Vichaar: Episode 2 transcript
      • Vichaar: testimonials
    • Bharatanatyam for creative aging >
      • Bharatanatyam for all
      • Bharatanatyam for all: testimonials
      • Bharatanatyam for all: instructional videos
      • Resources for seniors