Gatherings of neurons damaged around centre of spine (8)
I believe the answer is:
reunions
'gatherings' is the definition.
(reunion is a kind of gathering)
'neurons damaged around centre of spine' is the wordplay.
'damaged' indicates an anagram.
'around' is an insertion indicator.
'centre of' says to take the centre.
The middle letter of 'spine' is 'i'.
'neurons' with letters rearranged gives 'reunons'.
'reunons' placed around 'i' is 'REUNIONS'.
'of' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for reunions that I've seen before include "Annual get-togethers as for past pupils" , "Get-togethers, often annual" , "Get-togethers of old friends, usually annual" , "Get-togethers between former colleagues or friends" , "Meetings of those who haven't met for a while" .)