Activity-Dependent Plasticity of Spinal Locomotion: Implications for Sensory Processing

EDGERTON, V.R. and R.R. ROY. Activity-dependent Plasticity of spinal locomotion: implications for sensory processing. Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev., Vol. 37, No. 4, Pp. 171-178, 2009. The lumbosacral spinal cord of mammals contains the neural circuitry capable of generating full weight-bearing locomotion of the hind limbs without any supraspinal input. One or more interventions, for example, pharmacological, epidural stimulation, and/or locomotor training, however, are necessary to gain access to and modulate the properties of this circuitry and to facilitate recovery of full weight-bearing locomotion after spinal cord injury.