title: Cortical activation during visual illusory walking in persons with spinal cord injury: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the location of cortical activation during a visual illusion walking paradigm, a recently proposed treatment for spinal cord injury (SCI)-related neuropathic pain, in persons with SCI compared with able-bodied controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pilot experimental functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient rehabilitation clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Persons with paraplegia (n=3) and able-bodied participants (n=5) were included in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cortical activation as measured by the blood oxygenation level-dependent method of fMRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During visually illusory walking there was significant activation in the somatosensory cortex among those with SCI. In contrast, able-bodied participants showed little to no significant activation in this area, but they showed activation in the frontal and premotor areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment modalities for SCI-related neuropathic pain that are based on sensory input paradigms (eg, virtual walking, visual illusory walking) may work by targeting the somatosensory cortex, an area that has been previously found to functionally reorganize after SCI.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eick
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Electronic address: ejrichar@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging; Rehabilitation; Somatosensory cortex; Spinal cord injuries; Walking