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Related Concept Videos

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...
Operant Conditioning Intervention01:24

Operant Conditioning Intervention

Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...

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Updated: May 13, 2026

Methods to Quantify Pharmacologically Induced Alterations in Motor Function in Human Incomplete SCI
14:55

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Published on: April 18, 2011

Operant conditioning to increase ankle control or decrease reflex excitability improves reflex modulation and walking

Kathleen J Manella1, Kathryn E Roach, Edelle C Field-Fote

  • 1Department of Physical Therapy, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33146, USA.

Journal of Neurophysiology
|March 8, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Operant conditioning interventions for spinal cord injury (SCI) improved ankle function. Voluntary tibialis anterior (TA) activation enhanced voluntary control, while soleus (SOL) H-reflex suppression reduced reflex excitability, benefiting individuals with SCI and ankle clonus.

Keywords:
ankle clonusantagonist coactivationpresynaptic inhibitionreciprocal inhibitionsoleus stretch reflex

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The Evoked Potential Operant Conditioning System (EPOCS): A Research Tool and an Emerging Therapy for Chronic Neuromuscular Disorders

Published on: August 25, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Rehabilitation Medicine
  • Motor Control

Background:

  • Ankle clonus post-spinal cord injury (SCI) stems from reduced supraspinal inhibition and spinal reflex reorganization.
  • This maladaptive plasticity, including tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus (SOL) coactivation, impairs walking in motor-incomplete SCI.
  • Operant conditioning shows promise for enhancing muscle activation and reducing stretch reflexes in SCI.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare two operant conditioning interventions for individuals with SCI-related ankle clonus and impaired walking.
  • To investigate voluntary TA activation (TA↑) for supraspinal drive enhancement versus SOL H-reflex suppression (SOL↓) for spinal modulation.

Main Methods:

  • Participants with SCI and ankle clonus underwent either TA↑ or SOL↓ training.
  • Outcome measures included clonus duration, reflex thresholds, active range of motion, motor scores (LEMS), and walking parameters.
  • Spinal reflex excitability was assessed via SOL H-reflex modulation, presynaptic inhibition, and low-frequency depression.

Main Results:

  • TA↑ training improved plantar flexor reflex threshold, dorsiflexion range of motion, LEMS, and walking foot clearance and distance.
  • SOL↓ training reduced SOL-to-TA coactivation, increased LEMS, walking speed, and distance.
  • TA↑ was associated with enhanced voluntary control, while SOL↓ was linked to decreased reflex excitability.

Conclusions:

  • Both operant conditioning approaches show benefits for individuals with SCI and ankle clonus.
  • TA↑ effectively enhances voluntary motor control and functional mobility.
  • SOL↓ successfully modulates spinal reflex excitability, contributing to improved walking outcomes.