Ischemic damage to the brain triggers substantial reorganization of spared areas and pathways, which is associated with limited, spontaneous restoration of function. A better understanding of this plastic remodeling is crucial to develop more effective strategies for stroke rehabilitation. In this review article, we discuss advances in the comprehension of post-stroke network reorganization in patients and animal models. We first focus on rodent studies that have shed light on the mechanisms underlying neuronal remodeling in the perilesional area and contralesional hemisphere after motor cortex infarcts. Analysis of electrophysiological data has demonstrated brain-wide alterations in functional connectivity in both hemispheres, well beyond the infarcted area. We then illustrate the potential use of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques to boost recovery. We finally discuss rehabilitative protocols based on robotic devices as a tool to promote endogenous plasticity and functional restoration.

We study the quantum Rabi model within the framework of the analytical solution developed in Phys. Rev. Lett. 107,100401 (2011). In particular, through time-dependent correlation functions, we give a quantitative criterion for classifying two regions of the quantum Rabi model, involving the Jaynes-Cummings, the ultrastrong, and deep strong coupling regimes. In addition, we find a stationary qubit-field entangled basis that governs the whole dynamics as the coupling strength overcomes the mode frequency.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures. Revised version, accepted for publication in Physical Review