Plastic changes in the brain after human hand allotransplantation

The physiological mechanism after hand transplant was investigated using magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Somatosensory and motor representations of the upper arm proximal to amputation occupied the hand area before surgery and moved back toward normal position after the surgery. The absent cortical inhibition with amputation increased gradually after surgery. The cortical plastic changes preceded functional recovery and can be used to monitor functional restoration after hand transplant.