Neuronal plasticity has been traditionally associated with learning and memory processes in the hippocampal regions of the brain. It is now generally accepted that plasticity phenomena are also associated with other kinds of cellular changes and modifications occurring in all areas of the central nervous system after injury or intense neuronal activity. For instance, spinal cord injuries have been associated with a series of cellular modifications and adaptations taking place distally in sublesional areas. Some of these modifications include changes in the expression of immediate early genes (e.g. c-fos and nor-1), TNF-alpha, preprodynorphin, neurotrophic factors (e.g. BDNF and NT-3) and several subtypes of trans-membranal receptors (e.g. 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A). This review constitutes an update of the current knowledge regarding this broadly defined plasticity phenomenon that occurs spontaneously or that can be modulated by training in sublesional segments of the spinal cord. Spinal cord plasticity is an increasingly popular field of research, since believed by many as being a complex phenomenon which may contribute to the development of innovative therapeutics and rehabilitative approaches for spinal cord injured patients.