title: Tonic and Rhythmic Spinal Activity Underlying Locomotion.
abstract: In recent years, many researches put significant efforts into understanding and assessing the functional state of the spinal locomotor circuits in humans. Various techniques have been developed to stimulate the spinal cord circuitries, which may include both diffuse and quite specific tuning effects. Overall, the findings indicate that tonic and rhythmic spinal activity control are not separate phenomena but are closely integrated to properly initiate and sustain stepping. The spinal cord does not simply transmit information to and from the brain. Its physiologic state determines reflex, postural and locomotor control and, therefore, may affect the recovery of the locomotor function in individuals with spinal cord and brain injuries. This review summarizes studies that examine the rhythmogenesis capacity of cervical and lumbosacral neuronal circuitries in humans and its importance in developing central pattern generator-modulating therapies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 306, Rome 00179. Italy.
authors.forename: Yury P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Ivanenko
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Department, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon. United States.
authors.forename: Victor S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Gurfinkel
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurobiology of Motor Control, Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Moscow 127994. Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Victor A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Selionov
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurobiology of Motor Control, Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Moscow 127994. Russian Federation.
authors.forename: Irina A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Solopova
authors.affiliation: Centre of Space Bio-medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome. Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sylos-Labini
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Laval University, Québec City, Canada.
authors.forename: Pierre A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Guertin
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome. Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lacquaniti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents
keywords: Central pattern generator; Kohnstamm phenomenon; electromagnetic stimulation; locomotion; muscle tone; neuromodulators; rhythmogenesis; sensory input; spinal cord