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Related Concept Videos

Neuroplasticity01:01

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.
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...
Spinal Cord: Information Processing01:10

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Sensory Information Processing
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Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways01:29

Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways

Somatic sensory or somatosensory pathways refer to the neural pathways that carry information related to touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and proprioception from the skin, muscles, tendons, and joints to the brain. These pathways involve several stages of processing and integration of sensory information.
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Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy01:16

Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy

The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord offers a detailed view of its complex structure and function within the central nervous system. At the core of the spinal cord lies the gray matter, characterized by its butterfly or "H"-shaped appearance in cross-section. This central region is enveloped by white matter, with the overall structure divided into symmetrical halves by the dorsal median sulcus and the ventral median fissure.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

A Neonatal Mouse Spinal Cord Compression Injury Model
13:31

A Neonatal Mouse Spinal Cord Compression Injury Model

Published on: March 27, 2016

Pathway-specific plasticity in the human spinal cord.

Christian Leukel1, Wolfgang Taube, Sandra Beck

  • 1Department of Sport Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. christian.leukel@sport.uni-freiburg.de

The European Journal of Neuroscience
|April 11, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study used paired associative stimulation (PAS) to induce spinal cord plasticity in humans. Results show that this neural plasticity is pathway-specific, offering potential for treating spinal cord injuries.

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Last Updated: May 23, 2026

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Published on: September 23, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Neuroplasticity

Background:

  • Spinal cord plasticity is crucial for motor function.
  • Understanding pathway-specific plasticity can inform rehabilitation strategies.
  • Non-invasive stimulation techniques offer potential for therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To artificially induce and evaluate pathway-specific plasticity in the human spinal cord.
  • To investigate the effects of spinal paired associative stimulation (PAS) on corticospinal pathways.
  • To assess the potential of PAS for therapeutic applications in neurological conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Paired associative stimulation (PAS) involving transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex and peripheral nerve stimulation.
  • Assessment of corticospinal pathway transmission using conditioned H-reflexes before and after PAS.
  • Utilizing both cortical and cervicomedullary stimulation for H-reflex conditioning in healthy volunteers.

Main Results:

  • Spinal PAS significantly facilitated conditioned H-reflexes, indicating induced neural plasticity.
  • Facilitation was observed with both cortical and cervicomedullary stimulation, suggesting spinal cord involvement.
  • The observed plasticity was specific to particular inter-stimulus intervals, implying pathway specificity.

Conclusions:

  • Artificial induction of neural plasticity within the human spinal cord is achievable using spinal PAS.
  • The induced spinal plasticity demonstrates pathway-specific characteristics.
  • These findings hold promise for developing interventions for conditions like spinal cord injuries.