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Updated: Jul 15, 2026
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In Vivo Intracellular Recording of Type-Identified Rat Spinal Motoneurons During Trans-Spinal Direct Current Stimulation
Published on: May 11, 2020
Surface circumferential spinal cord recording in freely moving rodents
Salim El Hadwe1,2, Ruben Ruiz-Mateos Serrano1, George Psaltakis3
1Electrical Engineering Division, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Nature Communications
|July 13, 2026
Summary
A new spinal cord electrode array decodes motor intent, sensory, and visceral inputs simultaneously. This multifunctional neuroprosthetic interface offers integrated restoration of function after neurological injury.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
- Spinal Cord Research
Background:
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) impacts millions globally, with current treatments often addressing functions in isolation.
- Existing neuroprosthetic strategies face limitations in integrating motor, sensory, and autonomic functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a single, multifunctional neuroprosthetic interface for the spinal cord.
- To demonstrate simultaneous decoding of motor intent, sensory inputs, and visceral afferent signals.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an ultrathin, circumferential electrode array conforming to the spinal cord without penetrating neural tissue.
- Employed deep learning decoders to analyze low-frequency spinal oscillations for motor intent decoding in rats.
- Validated cross-species performance in pigs for sensory and visceral input classification.
Main Results:
- Achieved robust motor intent decoding (R² = 0.97) in freely moving rats.
- Classified eight sensory modalities with 94.4% accuracy.
- Successfully distinguished visceral sensory inputs in pigs, confirming translational scalability.
Conclusions:
- A single conformal spinal cord interface can consolidate motor, sensory, and visceral decoding.
- This approach positions the spinal cord as a viable target for multifunctional neuroprosthetic interfacing.
- Offers a pathway toward integrated restoration of physiological function post-neurological injury.
