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Brain-controlled modulation of spinal circuits improves recovery from spinal cord injury

Author

Listed:
  • Marco Bonizzato

    (School of Bioengineering, EPFL)

  • Galyna Pidpruzhnykova

    (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL))

  • Jack DiGiovanna

    (School of Bioengineering, EPFL)

  • Polina Shkorbatova

    (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL)
    Pavlov Institute of Physiology)

  • Natalia Pavlova

    (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL)
    Pavlov Institute of Physiology)

  • Silvestro Micera

    (School of Bioengineering, EPFL
    Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna)

  • Grégoire Courtine

    (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL)
    University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV))

Abstract

The delivery of brain-controlled neuromodulation therapies during motor rehabilitation may augment recovery from neurological disorders. To test this hypothesis, we conceived a brain-controlled neuromodulation therapy that combines the technical and practical features necessary to be deployed daily during gait rehabilitation. Rats received a severe spinal cord contusion that led to leg paralysis. We engineered a proportional brain–spine interface whereby cortical ensemble activity constantly determines the amplitude of spinal cord stimulation protocols promoting leg flexion during swing. After minimal calibration time and without prior training, this neural bypass enables paralyzed rats to walk overground and adjust foot clearance in order to climb a staircase. Compared to continuous spinal cord stimulation, brain-controlled stimulation accelerates and enhances the long-term recovery of locomotion. These results demonstrate the relevance of brain-controlled neuromodulation therapies to augment recovery from motor disorders, establishing important proofs-of-concept that warrant clinical studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Bonizzato & Galyna Pidpruzhnykova & Jack DiGiovanna & Polina Shkorbatova & Natalia Pavlova & Silvestro Micera & Grégoire Courtine, 2018. "Brain-controlled modulation of spinal circuits improves recovery from spinal cord injury," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-05282-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05282-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Maxime Lemieux & Narges Karimi & Frederic Bretzner, 2024. "Functional plasticity of glutamatergic neurons of medullary reticular nuclei after spinal cord injury in mice," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Kai Zhou & Wei Wei & Dan Yang & Hui Zhang & Wei Yang & Yunpeng Zhang & Yingnan Nie & Mingming Hao & Pengcheng Wang & Hang Ruan & Ting Zhang & Shouyan Wang & Yaobo Liu, 2024. "Dual electrical stimulation at spinal-muscular interface reconstructs spinal sensorimotor circuits after spinal cord injury," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-26, December.
    3. Alex Burton & Zhong Wang & Dan Song & Sam Tran & Jessica Hanna & Dhrubo Ahmad & Jakob Bakall & David Clausen & Jerry Anderson & Roberto Peralta & Kirtana Sandepudi & Alex Benedetto & Ethan Yang & Diya, 2023. "Fully implanted battery-free high power platform for chronic spinal and muscular functional electrical stimulation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.

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