Figure 2.

Synaptic plasticity promotes recovery after neural damage. Healthy condition: a schematic model representing neuronal excitatory connections. Neuron C and D receive synaptic excitatory inputs from neurons A and B respectively. Acute damage: damage to neuron B deprives neuron D of excitatory synaptic input leading to disconnection and symptoms appearance. Recovery of function: clinical recovery is associated to increased excitability of the surviving A neuron that unmasks latent synaptic connections through LTP and restores synaptic activity of neuron D.