Alberta Innovates- Health Solutions

Dr. Jeffrey Kleim uses the example of a concert pianist to describe the relationship between brain structure and function. "If you could look in the area of the pianist's brain responsible for skill, the motor cortex, and impose over it what's known as a cortical map that relates body parts to regions of the brain, you would see many more brain cell (neuron) connections in the area that controls the fingers. That area would be larger than in the brain of a non-musician."

Dr. Kleim's research into the relationship between structure and function in the brain brought him to the University of Lethbridge to work with Dr. Brian Kolb and Dr. Ian Wishaw (both internationally known researchers in the field of behavioural and restorative neurology). Dr. Kleim's research focuses on understanding how changes in brain structure contributes to changes in brain function.

The assumption is when brain function changes, the connections in the brain change. New synapses (connections between neurons) grow in the region where function has shifted as observed in the brains of stroke victims. Areas surrounding the tissue damaged by stroke reorganize to compensate. In theory, the new connections control the parts of the body affected by the stroke.

However, the area surrounding the stroke-damaged tissue is very sensitive and often dies, reducing recovery. Dr. Kleim investigates certain drugs to see if they can also change function in the brain. He aims to identify neuroprotective drugs that can prevent this secondary tissue loss.

Dr. Kleim collaborates with Dr. Cam Teskey at the University of Calgary to examine how epilepsy affects brain structure and function. He also works with Dr. Dale Corbett at Memorial University to study why a series of small "mini" strokes prevents damage by larger strokes.

Dr. Jeffrey Kleim is a Heritage Scholar at the University of Lethbridge. He also receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and the Medical Research Council of Canada.

For more information:
Heart & Stroke Foundation
Edmonton Epilepsy Association
The Epilepsy Association of Calgary