While amputation was considered a prominent model for cortical reorganisation, recent evidence highlights persistent representation of the missing hand. We offer a new perspective on the literature of amputation-triggered sensorimotor plasticity, by emphasising the need for homeostasis and emerging evidence of latent activity distributed across the homunculus. We argue that deprivation uncovers pre-existing latent activity, which can manifest as remapping, but that since this activity was already there, remapping could in some instances correspond to functional stability of the system rather than reorganisation. Adaptive behaviour and Hebbian-like plasticity may also play crucial roles in maintaining the functional organisation of the homunculus when deprivation occurs in adulthood or in early development. Collectively, we suggest that the brain’s need for stability may underlie several key phenotypes for brain remapping, previously interpreted as consequential to reorganisation. Nevertheless, reorganisation may still be possible, especially when cortical changes contribute to the stability of the system.

虽然截肢被认为是皮层重组的重要模型，但最近的证据强调了缺失的手的持续表现。我们通过强调体内平衡的必要性和分布在小人体内的潜在活动的新证据，为截肢触发的感觉运动可塑性文献提供了一个新的视角。我们认为，剥夺揭示了预先存在的潜在活动，这可以表现为重新映射，但由于这种活动已经存在，因此在某些情况下，重新映射可能对应于系统的功能稳定性而不是重组。当在成年期或早期发育中发生剥夺时，适应性行为和类似赫布的可塑性也可能在维持小人的功能组织方面发挥关键作用。总的来说，我们认为大脑对稳定性的需求可能是大脑重新映射的几个关键表型的基础，以前被解释为重组的结果。尽管如此，重组仍然是可能的，尤其是当皮层的变化有助于系统的稳定性时。