Preface

Chapter 8 **Dendritic Spine Modifications in Brain Physiology 147**

Montserrat González Platas and María Yaiza Pérez Martin

Jun Ju and Qiang Zhou

**VI** Contents

Chapter 9 **Sleep Disorders in Multiple Sclerosis 167**

Neuroplasticity associated with a neuronal network capacity to change and the brain's abili‐ ty to reorganize is a key process in human development and existence. The nervous system is chiefly responsible for concerted functioning of a logical sequence: prognosticate, plan and correlate widely divergent information by controlling bodily activities. This phenomen‐ on is presumably a result of all neural circuits' activity; therefore, the degree of complexity in neural circuitry may determine the degree of functioning. The neuronal connectome forms the basis for communication; furthermore, its overall level may result in different lev‐ els of plasticity. For the last decade, the available information concerning mechanisms and significance of neuroplastic changes within the central and peripheral nervous systems has been significantly increased. Medical reports describe the extensive decline in the quality of life of patients suffering from neurodegenerative or neurodevelopmental syndromes that contribute to personal suffering, disability and high medical costs.

Neuroplasticity today is an important subject of neuroscience, medicine, bioinformatics, computer sciences, philosophy and other disciplines. It is theoretically impossible to give an overview of all aspects of this process; many specialized reviews dealing with the most com‐ mon mechanisms of neuroplasticity have been published. In the present book we give read‐ ers cutting-edge reports on neuronal adaptations, brain dynamics, brain reorganization in early development along with late adulthood, the role of music in plastic changes, as well as brain changes associated with sleep and autoimmune disorders. These studies will provide a framework to seek a fundamental understanding of modulatory systems involved in neu‐ ral reorganization and adaptation.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the structural and functional changes as‐ sociated with cortical remapping, sensory substitution, synaptic and non-synaptic compen‐ satory plasticity due to brain damage, brain training, chronic pain, meditation, music, exercise and related states. This book also suggests possible strategies for therapeutic inter‐ vention and design of habilitative and special educational programs. Using systemic transla‐ tional analysis of different pathways of neuronal reorganization, we will gain mechanistic insight into how nervous systems function and adapt to change. Continuing effort in this field will be the basis to unravel the enigma of neuroplasticity leading to the eventual goal of our research: to apply new knowledge to targeted therapy.

> **Dr. Victor V. Chaban** Professor of Medicine Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science University of California Los Angeles, USA

**Chapter 1**

**Provisional chapter**

**Neuroplasticity of Primary Sensory Neurons in Visceral**

**Neuroplasticity of Primary Sensory Neurons in Visceral** 

Chronic visceral pain is the most common complication of many functional disorders that do not have a defined pathophysiological cause. Functional pain syndromes include common disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (gastroenterology), chronic pelvic pain (gynecology), interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (urology), fibromyalgia (rheumatology), across multiple medical disciplines. Patients suffering from functional diseases may progress to cognitive decline and depression through neuroplastic changes not only at the level of the central nervous system but also in the periphery. Moreover, most functional diseases are much more prevalent in women than men suggesting estrogen modulation of nociceptive pathways. Defining the etiology of functional diseases for possible therapeutic interventions will have a significant impact on our understanding of

observed gender differences and on improving patient's quality of life.

**Keywords:** neuroplasticity, functional diseases, visceral pain, sensory neurons

Despite considerable efforts made by the medical research community and pharmaceutical industry to develop effective therapeutical treatments aimed to treat chronic visceral pain resulted from functional disease, there is little progress to date. Functional syndromes are estimated to affect up to 15–20% of the population worldwide. Symptom description of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS, urgency, frequency, and bladder pain generally relieved by voiding) is parallel to the description of irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea (IBS-D) predominance (urgency, frequency and abdominal pain) relieved by defecation. IBS stands in contrast to a bowel's structural disorder: unlike ulcerative colitis and Crohn's

> © 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use,

distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.73699

**Nociception**

**Nociception**

Victor V. Chaban

**Abstract**

**1. Introduction**

Victor V. Chaban

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.73699

#### **Neuroplasticity of Primary Sensory Neurons in Visceral Nociception Neuroplasticity of Primary Sensory Neurons in Visceral Nociception**

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.73699

Victor V. Chaban Victor V. Chaban

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.73699

#### **Abstract**

Chronic visceral pain is the most common complication of many functional disorders that do not have a defined pathophysiological cause. Functional pain syndromes include common disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (gastroenterology), chronic pelvic pain (gynecology), interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (urology), fibromyalgia (rheumatology), across multiple medical disciplines. Patients suffering from functional diseases may progress to cognitive decline and depression through neuroplastic changes not only at the level of the central nervous system but also in the periphery. Moreover, most functional diseases are much more prevalent in women than men suggesting estrogen modulation of nociceptive pathways. Defining the etiology of functional diseases for possible therapeutic interventions will have a significant impact on our understanding of observed gender differences and on improving patient's quality of life.

**Keywords:** neuroplasticity, functional diseases, visceral pain, sensory neurons
