title: Neuromodulation of the lumbar spinal locomotor circuit.
abstract: The lumbar spinal cord contains the necessary circuitry to independently drive locomotor behaviors. This function is retained following spinal cord injury (SCI) and is amenable to rehabilitation. Although the effectiveness of task-specific training and pharmacologic modulation has been repeatedly demonstrated in animal studies, results from human studies are less striking. Recently, lumbar epidural stimulation (EDS) along with locomotor training was shown to restore weight-bearing function and lower-extremity voluntary control in a chronic, motor-complete human SCI subject. Related animal studies incorporating EDS as part of the therapeutic regiment are also encouraging. EDS is emerging as a promising neuromodulatory tool for SCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, Los Angeles, 650 Charles E Young Drive South, CHS 74-129, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: AuYong
authors.forename: Daniel C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D063226:Central Pattern Generators / Q000502:physiology*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Central pattern generator; Epidural stimulation; Locomotion; Spinal cord injury