Motor control in man after partial or complete spinal cord injury

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Spinal Cord Injury Research
• Motor Control

Background:

• Motor control in individuals with spinal cord lesions is complex, involving interactions between segmental reflexes and influences from higher brain centers.
• Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for rehabilitation and managing spasticity and motor deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To classify the structural basis of motor control in spinal cord injury.
• To investigate the role of propriospinal systems and brainstem influences on spinal reflexes.
• To determine the extent of supraspinal control in clinically complete spinal cord injuries.

Main Methods:

• Classification of motor control based on reflex activity: simple segmental, plurisegmental, and propriospinal.
• Analysis of stretch reflex responses to various stimuli.
• Assessment of preserved bulbospinal influences in clinically complete spinal cord injuries.

Main Results:

• Motor control in spinal cord injury can be categorized into simple segmental reflexes, plurisegmental movements, and propriospinal processes with brain influence.
• Segmental reflexes are significantly modulated by the propriospinal interneuron system.
• A notable proportion of clinically complete spinal cord injuries exhibit preserved bulbospinal influences on spinal reflex activity.

Conclusions:

• Motor control after spinal cord injury is a spectrum, influenced by segmental, propriospinal, and supraspinal factors.
• The propriospinal interneuron system plays a critical role in modulating spinal reflexes.
• Even in complete spinal cord injuries, residual supraspinal control of involuntary motor activity can be present.