Epidural Spinal Electrogram Provides Direct Spinal Recordings in Awake Human Participants
John F Burke1, Nikhita Kunwar1, Maria S Yaroshinsky1
1Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States.
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|November 12, 2021
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to record human spinal cord electrical activity during movement. This technique, using epidural electrodes, is safe and feasible for studying voluntary motor control.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human physiology
- Motor control
Background:
- Electrophysiological activity of the human spinal cord during voluntary movement remains poorly understood.
- Existing research lacks methods for direct spinal cord recordings during naturalistic movements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate a novel technique for recording human spinal electrograms (SEGs) during voluntary movement.
- To assess the safety and feasibility of epidural spinal recordings in human subjects performing movement tasks.
Main Methods:
- Utilized epidural electrodes implanted for spinal cord stimulation trials to record SEGs.
- Synchronized SEG data with electromyography and accelerometry from wireless limb sensors.
- Collected data during naturalistic movements, including overground walking, arm, and leg movements.
Main Results:
- Successfully recorded electrophysiological activity directly from the human spinal cord during voluntary movements.
- Demonstrated the safety and feasibility of the novel epidural recording technique in human subjects.
- Collected synchronized SEG and kinematic data during various motor tasks.
Conclusions:
- The developed method enables direct electrophysiological recordings from the human spinal cord during voluntary movement.
- This technique is safe and feasible, opening new avenues for research into human motor control.
- Further studies can utilize this method to investigate spinal cord function during complex behaviors.
