Neuroplasticity Research
Browse the latest research summaries in the field of neuroplasticity for spinal cord injury patients and caregivers.
Showing 1-10 of 153 results
Treatments to restore respiratory function after spinal cord injury and their implications for regeneration, plasticity and adaptation
Exp Neurol, 2012 • May 1, 2012
This review highlights experimental strategies to restore respiratory function after spinal cord injury (SCI), focusing on the innate plasticity and capacity for adaptation in the respiratory system a...
KEY FINDING: Pharmacological treatments, such as theophylline, can partially restore function to the paralyzed hemidiaphragm by increasing respiratory drive.
Absence of IL-1β positively affects neurological outcome, lesion development and axonal plasticity after spinal cord injury
Journal of Neuroinflammation, 2013 • January 14, 2013
This study challenges previous in vitro findings by demonstrating that IL-1β exerts detrimental effects on axon plasticity, lesion development, and gliosis after spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice. The ...
KEY FINDING: Local application of recombinant IL-1β worsened the neurological outcome after SCI in mice.
Transection of Preganglionic Axons Leads to CNS Neuronal Plasticity Followed by Survival and Target Reinnervation
Auton Neurosci, 2013 • December 1, 2013
The study examined the effects of cervical sympathetic trunk (CST) transection on sympathetic preganglionic neurons, focusing on changes in ChAT expression, soma size, and the presence of ATF3 in the ...
KEY FINDING: Significant decrease in soma volume and reduced soma expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the intermediolateral cell column (IML) of T1 spinal cord were observed at 1 week.
STAT3 promotes corticospinal remodelling and functional recovery after spinal cord injury
EMBO reports, 2013 • August 9, 2013
The study investigates the role of STAT3 in corticospinal tract (CST) remodeling after spinal cord injury (SCI). It finds that sustained activation of STAT3 enhances remodeling of lesioned CST fibers ...
KEY FINDING: Endogenous STAT3 expression after spinal cord injury is transient and does not significantly contribute to axonal remodeling.
Repairing the injured spinal cord: sprouting versus regeneration. Is this a realistic match?
Neural Regen Res, 2014 • March 1, 2014
The field of spinal cord injury research has evolved, with some trends losing momentum and new approaches emerging. A balanced treatment approach for spinal cord injury is needed, including neuroprote...
KEY FINDING: Treatments aimed at promoting regeneration have been found to promote sprouting of spared and injured nerve cells, further supporting the shift towards studying neuroplasticity.
Ionic Plasticity: Common Mechanistic Underpinnings of Pathology in Spinal Cord Injury and the Brain
Cells, 2022 • September 17, 2022
The neurotransmitter GABA is normally characterized as having an inhibitory effect on neural activity in the adult central nervous system (CNS), which quells over-excitation and limits neural plastici...
KEY FINDING: Spinal cord injury (SCI) can bring about a modification that weakens the inhibitory effect of GABA in the central gray caudal to injury.
Electrical stimulation for the treatment of spinal cord injuries: A review of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive functional improvements
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 2023 • February 3, 2023
This review examines the potential cellular and molecular mechanisms of electrical stimulation post-SCI that may drive improvements to motor function, autonomic functions and neuropathic pain. Neuropl...
KEY FINDING: Electrical stimulation can induce local neuroplasticity between afferent fibers, interneurons, and motoneurons, resulting in greater motoneuron activation from afferent inputs, improving muscle recruitment.
The role of neuronal plasticity in cervical spondylotic myelopathy surgery: functional assessment and prognostic implication
Neurosurgical Review, 2023 • June 26, 2023
This review examines the role of neuronal plasticity in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) surgery, focusing on functional assessment and prognostic implications. The study analyzes various imaging...
KEY FINDING: Functional MRI (fMRI) can be used to evaluate neural plasticity, showing changes in cortical networks due to spinal cord injury and cerebral reorganization.
Testing a Novel Wearable Device for Motor Recovery of the Elbow Extensor Triceps Brachii in Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
eNeuro, 2023 • July 17, 2023
The study tested a wearable device that pairs auditory clicks with electrical stimulation to improve triceps muscle function in healthy volunteers and individuals with chronic cervical SCI. Results sh...
KEY FINDING: Paired stimulation did not increase the StartReact effect in healthy volunteers, indicating no enhancement of reticulospinal tract activity.
Updating perspectives on spinal cord function: motor coordination, timing, relational processing, and memory below the brain
Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience, 2024 • February 20, 2024
This review challenges the traditional view of the spinal cord as a simple relay station, highlighting its capacity for complex functions like motor coordination, learning, and memory. Research over t...
KEY FINDING: Spinal cord systems can organize coordinated behavior such as stepping, even without input from the brain.