Jeffrey Kleim is an associate professor and associate director of the School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering at Arizona State University. He studies how neural plasticity supports learning in the intact brain and “relearning” in the damaged or diseased brain. His research is directed at developing therapies that optimize plasticity in order to enhance recovery after stroke and Parkinson’s Disease. The brain is a highly dynamic organ that is capable of structural and functional reorganization in response to a variety of manipulations. This neural plasticity is the mechanism by which the brain encodes experience. His laboratory examines how plasticity within rat and human motor cortex supports learning in the intact brain and “relearning” after stroke. His group uses intracortical microstimulation in rats and transcranial magnetic stimulation in humans to examine how motor training alters the functional organization of motor cortex. This work has demonstrated that rehabilitation-dependent recovery of motor function after stroke is associated with a reorganization of movement representations in rodent motor cortex. Furthermore, there are specific behavioral and neural signals that drive both recovery and plasticity. These experiments are being used to test novel therapies for enhancing motor recovery in stroke patients.
Jeffrey Kleim studies how neural plasticity supports learning in the intact brain and “relearning” in the damaged or diseased brain. His research is directed at developing therapies that optimize plasticity in order to enhance recovery after stroke and Parkinson’s Disease. The brain is a highly dynamic organ that is capable of structural and functional reorganization in response to a variety of manipulations. This neural plasticity is the mechanism by which the brain encodes experience. His laboratory examines how plasticity within rat and human motor cortex supports learning in the intact brain and “relearning” after stroke. Kleim's group uses intracortical microstimulation in rats and transcranial magnetic stimulation in humans to examine how motor training alters the functional organization of motor cortex. This work has demonstrated that rehabilitation-dependent recovery of motor function after stroke is associated with a reorganization of movement representations in rodent motor cortex. Furthermore, there are specific behavioral and neural signals that drive both recovery and plasticity. These experiments are being used to test novel therapies for enhancing motor recovery in stroke patients.
Research Activity
Santello,Marco*, Frakes,David, Frakes,David, Greger,Bradley, Helms Tillery,Stephen I, Honeycutt,Claire, Kleim,Jeffrey Allan, Lockhart,Thurmon Eddy. Planning Grant: Collaborative Research: IUCRC for Building Reliable Advances and Innovation in Neurotechnology (BRAIN). NSF(9/15/2015 - 8/31/2016).
Kleim,Jeffrey Allan*, Stabenfeldt,Sarah E. A Novel TrkB Agonist To Promote Motor Recovery After TBI. HHS-NIH-NINDS(4/1/2015 - 3/31/2017).
Stabenfeldt,Sarah E*, Kleim,Jeffrey Allan, Kodibagkar,Vikram D, Rege,Kaushal, Sierks,Michael Richard. Detecting and Treating Traumatic Brain Injury Pathology Progression from the Inside-Out. HHS-NIH-NICHD(9/15/2014 - 8/31/2019).
Kleim,Jeffrey Allan*. Investigating the role of Novel Pharmacological Agents to Enhance Recovery Following Brain Injury. (9/15/2014 - 9/14/2015).
Kleim,Jeffrey Allan*. Neural Mechanisms of Compensating For Brain Damage. UTAustin(9/26/2012 - 6/30/2017).
Kleim,Jeffrey Allan*. NEURAL MECHANISMS OF COMPENSATING FOR BRAIN DAMAGE. UTAustin(5/1/2011 - 9/25/2012).
Kleim,Jeffrey Allan*. TrkB Receptors, Cortical Plasticity and Recovery After Stroke. AHA(4/2/2011 - 6/30/2012).
Kleim,Jeffrey Allan*. BDNF Genotype Cortical Plasticity and Recovery From Stroke. HHS-NIH-NINDS(1/18/2011 - 2/28/2013).
