Corticospinal Function After Spinal Cord Injury

Description

The investigator's overall goal is to develop new strategies to test optimization of Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) doses to maximize strategy to restore upper and lower-limb motor function in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The investigator proposes to use modern electrophysiological methods to enhance the efficacy of residual corticospinal connections. Defining the neural basis by which corticospinal volleys generate muscle responses will provide crucial information required to maximize residual motor output. The investigator's specific goals are to: 1) determine the temporal and spatial organization of corticospinal volleys and motor cortical representations of upper-limb muscles after incomplete cervical SCI and 2) develop methodologies to promote recovery of function. The investigator's focus on reach and grasp movements because of their importance in daily life activities.

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injury

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

The investigator's overall goal is to develop new strategies to test optimization of Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) doses to maximize strategy to restore upper and lower-limb motor function in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The investigator proposes to use modern electrophysiological methods to enhance the efficacy of residual corticospinal connections. Defining the neural basis by which corticospinal volleys generate muscle responses will provide crucial information required to maximize residual motor output. The investigator's specific goals are to: 1) determine the temporal and spatial organization of corticospinal volleys and motor cortical representations of upper-limb muscles after incomplete cervical SCI and 2) develop methodologies to promote recovery of function. The investigator's focus on reach and grasp movements because of their importance in daily life activities.

Corticospinal Function After Spinal Cord Injury

Corticospinal Function After Spinal Cord Injury

Condition
Spinal Cord Injury
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Chicago

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Inclusion criteria for individuals with SCI:
  • 1. Male and females between 18-85 years,
  • 2. Chronic SCI (≥ 6 months post injury),
  • 3. Cervical injury at C8 or above,
  • 4. Intact or impaired but not absent innervations in dermatomes C6, C7, and C8 using the American Spinal Injury Association sensory scores, and
  • 5. Ability to reach and grasp a small object located at least 8 cm forward, above, and laterally without leaning forward with the trunk
  • 1. Male and females between 18-85 years,
  • 2. Right handed,
  • 3. Ability to reach and grasp a small object located at least 8 cm forward, above, and laterally without leaning forward with the trunk
  • * Exclusion criteria for individuals with SCI and Healthy Controls:
  • 1. Uncontrolled medical problems including pulmonary, cardiovascular or orthopedic disease
  • 2. Any debilitating disease prior to the SCI that caused exercise intolerance
  • 3. Premorbid, ongoing major depression or psychosis, altered cognitive status
  • 4. History of head injury or stroke
  • 5. Pacemaker
  • 6. Metal plate in skull
  • 7. History of seizures
  • 8. Receiving drugs acting primarily on the central nervous system, which lower the seizure threshold such as antipsychotic drugs (chlorpromazine, clozapine) or tricyclic antidepressants
  • 9. Pregnant females
  • 10. Ongoing cord compression or a syrinx in the spinal cord or who suffer from a spinal cord disease such as spinal stenosis, spina bifida or herniated cervical disk.
  • 11. History of brain tumor and or brain infection

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 85 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab,

Monica Perez, PT PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Study Record Dates

2026-12-30