"Making Spinal Circuits Functional: Influence of the brain and periphery in the control of locomotion"
-pdf

Abstract: Clinical observations indicate that in the first year following a spinal cord injury classified as incomplete, substantial improvements in motor function may occur, but the pattern of recovery of various types of motor functions differs across a population of individuals.  Functional recovery depends upon the nature of the injury, the early and long-term plastic response of the neural system to the trauma, and the interactions between the neural and mechanical system components. Although it is clear that these general mechanisms are involved in the recovery process, the details of each mechanism and the relative importance of the various components are not well understood and are poorly characterized. Comprehensive strategies for investigation, repair and replacement are needed to make spinal circuits functional. Quantitative measures describing neuromotor control would considerably aid in our understanding of locomotor control and assessment of both the spontaneous recovery after injury as well as improvement to therapeutic interventions. This seminar will specifically present results from recent studies in our laboratory describing kinematics of walking gait and neural control of the musculoskeletal system in a rodent model of spinal cord injury. Changes in these measures because of spinal neurotrauma and the subsequent spontaneous recovery will be presented. We will also look at different rehabilitative therapeutic approaches that can be used to tap into the neuromotor plasticity in order to enhance functional recovery post injury.