Probing the Human Spinal Locomotor Circuits by Phasic Step-Induced Feedback and by Tonic Electrical and Pharmacological Neuromodulation.

@article{Hofstoetter2017ProbingTH,
  title={Probing the Human Spinal Locomotor Circuits by Phasic Step-Induced Feedback and by Tonic Electrical and Pharmacological Neuromodulation.},
  author={Ursula S. Hofstoetter and Maria Knikou and Pierre A. Guertin and Karen Minassian},
  journal={Current pharmaceutical design},
  year={2017},
  volume={23 12},
  pages={
          1805-1820
        }
}
The mammalian lumbar spinal cord experimentally isolated from supraspinal and afferent feedback input remains capable of expressing some basic locomotor function when appropriately stimulated. This ability has been attributed to spinal neural circuits referred to as central pattern generators (CPGs). In individuals with a severe spinal cord injury, rhythmic activity in paralyzed leg muscles can be generated by phasic proprioceptive feedback during therapist- or robotic-assisted stepping on a… 
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Background Citations
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Results Citations
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23 Citations

Spinal Control of Locomotion: Individual Neurons, Their Circuits and Functions

Continuous efforts on the function of spinal interneuronal circuits during mammalian locomotion will assist in delineating the neural mechanisms underlying locomotor control, and help develop novel targeted rehabilitation strategies in cases of impaired bipedal gait in humans.

Neuronal Actions of Transspinal Stimulation on Locomotor Networks and Reflex Excitability During Walking in Humans With and Without Spinal Cord Injury

The soleus H-reflex depression by transspinal stimulation suggests a potential application for normalization of spinal reflex excitability after SCI and is investigated in humans with and without spinal cord injury.

Transspinal stimulation increases motoneuron output of multiple segments in human spinal cord injury

Repeated transspinal stimulation increases spinal motoneuron responsiveness of ankle and knee muscles in the injured human spinal cord, and thus can promote motor recovery, and is a promising modality for promoting functional neuroplasticity after SCI.

Higher Responsiveness of Pattern Generation Circuitry to Sensory Stimulation in Healthy Humans Is Associated with a Larger Hoffmann Reflex

It is found that the high individual responsiveness of pattern generation circuitries to tonic sensory input in both the upper and lower limbs was related to larger H-reflexes, which is consistent with the idea that spinal reflex measurements play important roles in assessing the rhythmogenesis of the spinal cord.

Repeated transspinal stimulation decreases soleus H-reflex excitability and restores spinal inhibition in human spinal cord injury

The results indicate decreased reflex hyperexcitability and recovery of spinal inhibitory control in the injured human spinal cord with repeated transspinal stimulation.

Epidural and Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation Strategies for Motor Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury

These neuromodulation therapies provide various perspectives for recovery of motor function in chronic patients in whom limited improvement is expected with standard-of-care rehabilitative options.

The Spinal Control of Backward Locomotion

This paper shows that the center controlling locomotion within the spinal cord can produce a backward pattern when instructed by sensory signals from the limbs, however, the spinal locomotor network requires greater excitability to produce backward locomotion compared with forward locomotion.

Non-invasive approaches to functional recovery after spinal cord injury: Therapeutic targets and multimodal device interventions

Adapting Human-Based Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation to Develop a Clinically Relevant Animal Model

A new animal model of thoracolumbar tSCS that can accurately recapitulate studies in healthy humans and can receive a repeated and stable t SCS treatment after SCI with minimal restraint is established, and it is shown that the model displays bilateral evoked potentials in multisegmental leg muscles characteristically comparable to humans.

Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation and motor responses in individuals with spinal cord injury: A methodological review

To establish standardised procedures for neurophysiological assessments and therapeutic investigations of tSCS, further high-quality investigations are required, ideally utilizing consistent electrophysiological recording methods, and reporting common characteristics of the electrical stimulation administered.

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