Spinal cord plasticity is a possible tool for rehabilitation... this article is adapted with permission from Plasticity in the Central Nervous System: Operant Conditioning of the Spinal Stretch Reflex. Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, Segal RL. Volume 3, issue 4, pages 76-87, as well as 1997 Aspen Publishers, Inc.

The spinal cord of both nonhuman and human primate subjects exhibits the potential for plasticity. The spinal stretch reflexes (SSRs, monosynaptic and possibly polysynaptic) can be conditioned to be smaller (downtrained) or larger (uptrained) in both monkeys and humans. Operant conditioning of the t...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Neurology Report Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 54 - 61
Autor principal: Segal RL
Formato: tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 1998 May
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:The spinal cord of both nonhuman and human primate subjects exhibits the potential for plasticity. The spinal stretch reflexes (SSRs, monosynaptic and possibly polysynaptic) can be conditioned to be smaller (downtrained) or larger (uptrained) in both monkeys and humans. Operant conditioning of the triceps surae H-reflex in monkeys and rats further support the concept that operant conditioning alters the anatomical and physiological properties of targeted alpha motoneurons. Results from studies involving able-bodied human subjects are strikingly similar to results from monkey models for SSR training and monkey and rat models for H-reflex training. Conditioning paradigms appear successful in downtraining the SSR of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who present with some residual control of a hyperactive biceps brachii. The conditioning may also impact on movement control of SCI patients. Initial attempts at conditioning hyperactive SSRs of stroke patients have been equivocal. The site of lesion probably influences whether a patient with stroke or SCI can successfully condition the SSR.