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Related Concept Videos

Reflex Activity01:08

Reflex Activity

A reflex activity is an automatic, involuntary response to specific stimuli. It is a part of our survival mechanism, designed to protect us from potential harm. For example, when a bright light suddenly shines into our eyes, we instinctively close them or look away. This is a simple reflex activity orchestrated by the nervous system without conscious thought or effort.
A reflex exam is a diagnostic procedure performed by a healthcare professional to evaluate the functionality of a patient's...
Somatic Spinal Reflexes01:22

Somatic Spinal Reflexes

Somatic spinal reflexes are rapid, involuntary muscular responses to external stimuli that involve the somatic musculature and the spinal cord.
One of the most well-known somatic spinal reflexes is the stretch reflex, which is activated by the sudden stretching of a muscle. This reflex involves the activation of specialized sensory receptors called muscle spindles, which are located in the muscle tissue and detect changes in the length and speed of muscle contractions. When a muscle is suddenly...
Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology01:25

Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology

Early Ischemia and Ionic ImbalanceWithin minutes of spinal cord injury, a secondary cascade begins, progressing over hours to weeks. Vascular damage reduces blood flow, causing ischemia and mitochondrial dysfunction. ATP depletion leads to ion pump failure, membrane depolarization, sodium influx, potassium efflux, and water accumulation, resulting in cellular swelling. Increased intracellular calcium further disrupts mitochondria and accelerates cellular injury.Excitotoxicity and Neuronal...
Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology01:14

Spinal Cord Injury ll: Pathophysiology

Spinal cord injury progresses through two interconnected phases: primary injury and secondary injury.Primary InjuryPrimary injury happens at the moment of trauma and involves immediate mechanical damage to the spinal cord.Compression happens when broken vertebrae, herniated discs, or accumulating blood (such as a hematoma) press directly against the spinal cord, distorting its normal shape and function. In cases of contusion, the cord is bruised by a blunt force (like penetrating injuries or...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

Investigating Functional Regeneration in Organotypic Spinal Cord Co-cultures Grown on Multi-electrode Arrays
08:25

Investigating Functional Regeneration in Organotypic Spinal Cord Co-cultures Grown on Multi-electrode Arrays

Published on: September 23, 2015

Spinal reflex activity: a marker for neuronal functionality after spinal cord injury.

Michèle Hubli1, Volker Dietz, Marc Bolliger

  • 1Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. mhubli@paralab.balgrist.ch

Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair
|September 17, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Spinal cord injury (SCI) alters spinal reflexes (SRs). Early SR components correlate with better walking ability in SCI patients, indicating SRs can track recovery and functional training effectiveness.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Rehabilitation Medicine
  • Spinal Cord Injury Research

Background:

  • Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts neuronal circuits controlling locomotion, altering spinal reflexes (SRs).
  • In healthy individuals, SRs show an early reflex dominance, contrasting with a late component dominance in severe chronic SCI.
  • These reflex changes are observed in both human and animal models of SCI.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the connection between spinal reflex (SR) behavior and walking capacity in individuals with paraplegia and tetraplegia.
  • To determine if SR patterns can predict or reflect locomotor function after spinal cord injury.

Main Methods:

  • Spinal reflexes (SRs) were elicited using non-painful stimulation of the tibial nerve.
  • Locomotor ability was evaluated through standardized functional assessments and patient-reported questionnaires.

Main Results:

  • A significant correlation was found between walking ability and SR characteristics in chronic SCI.
  • Individuals with severe SCI unable to walk exhibited dominant late SR components.
  • Ambulatory SCI subjects demonstrated a dominant early SR component.
  • Functional training that improved walking also led to a reduction in the late SR component and the emergence of an early component.

Conclusions:

  • Spinal reflexes (SRs) can function as a reliable biomarker for assessing locomotor function in SCI patients.
  • Functional training enhances locomotor recovery by promoting neuronal plasticity, which is reflected in a shift towards early SR components.