NEUROMODULATION OF THE SPINAL CIRCUITS BY TSDCS FOR THE REHABILITATION OF SPINAL CORD INJURY
Abstract
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a severe injury to the pathways of the central nervous system (CNS). Despite a heavy post-injury physical rehabilitation regime, SCI patients are often bound to a wheelchair or left with other impairments diminishing their quality of life. Trans-spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) is a promising new technique for the treatment of SCI. During tsDCS a small direct current is applied to the spinal cord via two or more stimulation electrodes, placed on the back of the subject. The technique thereby aims to alter the response of the neural pathways in the spinal cord, which is hypothesized to have a positive effect on the recovery of the damaged spinal cord neurons. In previous studies, it has been shown that tsDCS is able to induce a polarity-dependent modulation of reflex and motor unit behavior as well as altering ascending proprioceptive information and associative plasticity effects on a corticospinal level. Current work in our laboratory focuses on further understanding and optimizing the use of tsDCS for the rehabilitation of SCI. We will therefore discuss the current developments in the field, the work done in our laboratory and potential future directions of the application of tsDCS to spinal cord injury rehabilitation.
Wednesday 13 January 2016, 16:30 - 17:30 h
Building Carré - room CR 3.718