Plasticity and alterations of Trunk Motor Cortex following Spinal Cord Injury and non-stepping Robot and Treadmill training

Exp Neurol, 2014 · DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2014.03.012 · Published: June 1, 2014

Spinal Cord Injury Neurology Neuroplasticity

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how the brain's motor cortex, specifically the area controlling trunk muscles, changes after a spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. The researchers examined whether treadmill training or robot-assisted treadmill training, without inducing stepping, could affect these changes. The study found that SCI leads to significant reorganization of the trunk motor cortex. This includes an expansion and shift of the trunk motor area in the brain. Treadmill training and robot-assisted treadmill training, even without stepping, caused a further shift in the trunk motor area, suggesting that these training methods can influence brain plasticity after SCI.

Study Duration

4-5 weeks training

Participants

44 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Chronic SCI results in expansion and rostral displacement of trunk motor representations in the cortex, with the greatest significant increase observed for rostral (to injury) trunk.
2
Significant changes occur in coactivation and synergy representation between different trunk muscles and between trunk and forelimb after chronic SCI.
3
Treadmill and robot-treadmill trained groups of rats showed a further small but significant rostral migration of the trunk representations, beyond the shift caused by transection alone.

Research Summary

The study examined trunk motor cortex representations in rats after spinal cord injury (SCI) and non-stepping treadmill or robot-assisted treadmill training. SCI induced significant reorganization of trunk motor cortex, including expansion and rostral displacement of trunk motor representations. Non-stepping treadmill training or robot-assisted treadmill training resulted in a further rostral migration of trunk representations, suggesting these training methods can influence brain plasticity after SCI.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Strategies

Understanding trunk motor cortex plasticity is crucial for designing effective rehabilitation strategies for spinal cord injury.

Training Considerations

Non-stepping training might consolidate maladaptive patterns, potentially interfering with subsequent rehabilitation efforts focused on restoring hindlimb stepping.

Cortical Topography

Shifts in cortical topography due to training may have negative impacts on subsequent recovery, highlighting the importance of considering the timing and type of interventions.

Study Limitations

1
The study used a rat model, which may not fully translate to human SCI.
2
The training was limited to non-stepping paradigms, and the effects of interventions promoting stepping were not examined.
3
The specific mechanisms underlying cortical plasticity were not fully elucidated.

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