One of our goals is to study how neuronal plasticity contributes to functional recovery after stroke. We therefore image chronically the dendrites and axons of Layer 2/3 and Layer 5 pyramidal neurons in peri-infarct cortex, over several months, before and after occlusion of the mdidle cerebral atery on one side.

Importantly, we want to correlate changes in neuronal structure with changes in local blood flow within peri-infarct cortex. To do so, we inject large fluorescent-dextran dye molecules into the peripheral vasculature. Since these dyes cannot cross the blood brain barrier, they highlight large and small vessels in the cortex, which can then be imaged in vivo through a cranial window.