Neural Network Simulation of Somatosensory Representational Plasticity

The brain represents the skin surface as a topographic map in the somatosensory cortex. This map has been shown experimentally to be modifiable in a use-dependent fashion throughout life. We present a neural network simulation of the competitive dynamics underlying this cortical plasticity by detailed analysis of receptive field properties of model neurons during simulations of skin co(cid:173) activation, cortical lesion, digit amputation and nerve section.