Ricerc@Sapienza

Abstract: Increasingly, refined virtual reality (VR) techniques allow for the simultaneous and coherent
stimulation of multiple sensory and motor domains. In some clinical interventions, such as those
related to spinal cord injuries (SCIs), the impact of VR on people′s multisensory perception, movements,
attitudes, and even modulations of socio‐cognitive aspects of their behavior may influence
every phase of their rehabilitation treatment, from the acute to chronic stages. This work describes

Neuroplastic changes in somatotopic organization within the motor and somatosensory systems have long been observed. The interruption of afferent and efferent brain-body pathways promotes extensive cortical reorganization. Changes are majorly related to the typical homuncular organization of sensorimotor areas and specific "somatotopic interferences". Recent findings revealed a relevant peripheral contribution to the plasticity of body representation in addition to the role of sensorimotor cortices.