Neurorehabilitation as a neuroplasticity tool Ivet Borissova Koleva Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria Santiago Ramón y Cajal: “Any man could … be the sculptor of his own brain.” Mary Reilly: “Man through the use of his hands (as energized by mind and will), can influence the state of his own health.” Neurorehabilitation (NR) is an interdiscipline between neurology, neurosurgery, physical and rehabilitation medicine. Rehabilitation is a functional therapy, based on a detailed functional assessment. For functional evaluation in NR we apply neurological scales and the International Classification of Functioning (ICF). For treatment we use the SMART approach (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timebound). In clinical NR practice we apply the “rehabilitation puzzle”- a synergic combination of different physical modalities (electric currents, magnetic field, movement, activities, temperature, etc.). Many NR tools have the potential to rewire cerebral functions and to excite the formation of new connections and pathways, respectively to stimulate the brain reorganization and adaptation to the ‘new’ situation (appearance of a damaged locus in the cerebral tissue), in other terms - to help functional recovery through potentiation of use-induced and use-dependent neuroplasticity: From the field of physiotherapy: Mirror therapy; Bimanual and bipedal exercises (training of the damaged and the healthy extremity, dominant and non-dominant); Regular physical activity (repetition of exercises with mild to moderate intensity); From the domain of ergotherapy (occupational therapy): Education of the person with disability trough task oriented (task-specific) activities; Art therapy, music-therapy; relaxation techniques (including sleeping). From the field of preformed physical modalities: transcranial electric stimulation (applying direct current), transcranial magnetic stimulation. In clinical NR practice these methods are oriented to patients with Post-stroke hemiparesis, Multiple sclerosis, Traumatic brain injury, Parkinsonism; and after neurosurgical interventions for brain tumors or ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Based on our modest clinical practice (of 30 years) in the NR-field, we will present our own results, some typical and rare cases. Page | 1 Biography: Prof. Ivet Borissova Koleva is a medical doctor, specialist in Neurology and in Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM); with 30 years of clinical practice. She has completed a PhD thesis on “Physical Prevention and Therapy of Diabetic Polyneuropathy”; and a thesis for Doctor-es-Medical Sciences on “Neurorehabilitation in patients with socially important neurological diseases”. She received the titles of Associate professor (2006) and Professor (2010) in PRM. Actually, she works as professor at the Medical University of Sofia, Bulgaria. Page | 2 .