Forelimb EMG-based trigger to control an electronic spinal bridge to enable hindlimb stepping after a complete spinal cord lesion in rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A complete spinal cord transection results in loss of all supraspinal motor control below the level of the injury. The neural circuitry in the lumbosacral spinal cord, however, can generate locomotor patterns in the hindlimbs of rats and cats with the aid of motor training, epidural stimulation and/or administration of monoaminergic agonists. We hypothesized that there are patterns of EMG signals from the forelimbs during quadrupedal locomotion that uniquely represent a signal for the "intent" to step with the hindlimbs. These observations led us to determine whether this type of "indirect" volitional control of stepping can be achieved after a complete spinal cord injury. The objective of this study was to develop an electronic bridge across the lesion of the spinal cor

SUBMITTER: Gad P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3547763 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature