The introduction of functional neuroimaging techniques has contributed to our understanding of the neural correlates of recovery of motor, sensory, and cognitive functions after brain damage. In this paper, literature over the past twenty years is reviewed, with particular emphasis on quantitative studies of cerebral blood flow and metabolism. Studies are presented that examine recovery from hemiparesis, aphasia, spatial hemineglect, and sensory disorders. The contribution of this research is critically discussed in a methodological perspective, and the importance of accurate behavioral measures is underlined. A basic distinction is made between cerebral plasticity and recovery of functions. It is also argued that the most frequently used experimental designs do not permit one to directly relate changes in brain activity to functional recovery. The paper proposes alternative experimental designs, based on correlations between behavioral performance and brain activations.