title: Using sympathetic skin responses in individuals with spinal cord injury as a quantitative evaluation of motor imagery abilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Motor imagery (MI) ability should be evaluated in selected individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) who can benefit from MI training in their rehabilitation program. Electrodermal activity seems to be a reliable indicator for assessing MI ability. However, individuals with SCI have a variety of autonomic dysfunctions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate electrodermal responses (EDRs) elicited by MI.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cost-utility analysis of EDR above and below the lesion level in individuals with complete or incomplete SCI (n = 30) versus a control group of individuals who were healthy (n = 10) was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  The EDR was recorded above and below the lesion level during MI of a drinking action. Duration, latency, and amplitude of EDR were the outcome measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hand and foot EDR in the control group occurred with the same pattern and similar latencies, suggesting a common efferent sympathetic pathway to sweat glands of the hand and foot mediating a sympathetic skin response. Individuals with SCI elicited responses above the lesion level. The EDR amplitude was correlated to the lesion level and autonomic dysreflexia history. No foot response was recorded in individuals with complete cervical and thoracic motor lesions. Foot response with a lower amplitude and higher latency occurred in participants with incomplete motor lesion, suggesting a link between the descending motor pathway and sympathetic function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The small sample of individuals with incomplete SCI limits the generalization of the results obtained at the foot site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electrodermal response above the lesion level may be a reliable index for assessing MI ability in individuals with SCI. It is a noninvasive, user-friendly method for clinicians to consider before enrolling individuals in MI training.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de la Performance Motrice, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CRIS EA 647, P3M, Mentale et du Matériel 27-29, Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France. murielle.grangeon@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Murielle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grangeon
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Charvier
authors.forename: Aymeric
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guillot
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rode
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Collet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020211:Autonomic Dysreflexia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult