Movement Recovery Laboratory

Past Projects

 
  1. Independent Replication of Motor Cortex and Cervical Spinal Cord Electrical Stimulation to Promote Forelimb Motor Function After Spinal Cord Injury in Rats
    This study addressed the clinical challenge of cervical spinal cord injury (SCI), a condition where most patients retain residual corticospinal tract connections that can be targeted for functional recovery. The primary objective was to independently validate a paired cortex and spinal cord stimulation protocol, originally developed in the Martin Laboratory, to establish a foundation for translating the therapy to human use. The methodology employed a combined paradigm of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) to the cortex, serving as a translational mimic of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and non-invasive transcutaneous direct current stimulation to the spinal cord.
    The results demonstrated that spinal cord-injured animals receiving this paired stimulation performed significantly better on behavioral tasks challenging forelimb function compared to those receiving sham treatments. Furthermore, histological evidence showed increased axonal sprouting below the lesion site in the stimulation group, confirming enhanced structural plasticity. By replicating these findings with a large effect size in an independent laboratory, this project validated the robustness of the approach and earned strong endorsement from the SCI clinical and research community. This study provided the necessary evidence to move the protocol into trials with larger animal models before eventual human application.
    Support: NYS Department of Health Spinal Cord Injury Board C31291GG - (JHM)
    Relevant Publication
     
  2. Paired Motor Cortex and Cervical Spinal Cord Stimulation to Corticospinal Tract Connections and Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury
    This research addressed the physiological basis of paralysis following spinal cord injury (SCI), which often results from damage to the corticospinal tract (CST). This is the primary pathway connecting the motor cortex to the spinal cord. Because a portion of the CST is frequently spared even in cases of severe paralysis, these remaining fibers provided a critical anatomical substrate for therapeutic intervention. While independent electrical stimulation of either the brain or the spinal cord had previously shown efficacy in improving motor function, this project investigated the hypothesis that paired stimulation could amplify these effects by simultaneously strengthening cortical signals and increasing spinal cord sensitivity.
    To test this, the researchers developed a novel, inert, and pliable electrode array designed for safe and effective neural stimulation. In experimental rat models of CST damage, the electrodes were tested to define optimal locations and parameters for neural pairing. Results demonstrated that pairing epidural motor cortex stimulation with epidural cervical spinal cord stimulation resulted in superior potentiation of the forelimb muscle responses compared to either stimulation site used alone or other control conditions. Notably, the study found that repeating this paired protocol led to persistent potentiation of CST responses that remained after the stimulation ended.
    The project concluded that this induced plasticity occurred at the level of the spinal cord, confirming the potential of paired stimulation as a robust mechanism for neural reorganization. By defining these effective parameters, the study advanced the therapeutic potential of neuromodulation and laid the groundwork for the Spinal Cord Associated Plasticity (SCAP) Protocol for enabling functional recovery in individuals living with paralysis due to CST damage.
    Relevant Publication
     
  3. Combining 4-AP with Motor Training to Promote Forelimb Motor Recovery in Rats with Pyramidal Tract Injury
    This research addressed the recovery of forelimb movement, which remains a primary unmet need for patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Having previously demonstrated that the drug 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP) could significantly raise neural excitability within circuits spared after injury, this project sought to investigate how to optimally combine 4-AP with motor training to produce lasting functional improvements.
    The study utilized a three-pronged methodology to assess changes in supination function using our in-house developed knob supination task. This approach integrated behavior testing, anatomical tract tracing, and physiological confirmation to identify exactly which neural pathways assumed control of motor function following treatment. By evaluating the synergies between pharmacological intervention and physical rehabilitation, the project aimed to establish a new rationale for using 4-Aminopyridine to potentiate the effects of motor training. 
    Support: NYS - DOH01 PART 2 2017 C33269GG NY State’s Innovative, Developmental or Exploratory Activities in Spinal Cord Injury
    Relevant Publication
     
  4. Dissecting and Strengthening Corticospinal Connections After Spinal Cord Injury Using Advanced Neuroscience Methods
    This project investigated the neural mechanisms of spontaneous recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) by identifying and strengthening/weakening specific neural circuits essential for restoring movement. Using anterograde viral tracers injected into the forelimb motor cortex, the study mapped the survival and branching of axons across the C4 lesion site and into the C6 region of the rat spinal cord. This ensured a high-resolution anatomical map of the circuits potentially responsible for restoring motor function.
    To test the functional necessity of these pathways, a chemogenetic inactivation system was employed. By delivering a CRE
  5.  Combined Therapy for Forelimb Area Motor Cortex and Spinal Cord Epidural Stimulation to Improve Hand Function after Spinal Cord Injury and Identifying the Responsible Pathway
     
  6. Motor Cortex Electrical Stimulation to Augment Spontaneous Recovery After Chronic Subcortical Stroke
     
  7. Repairing Sensorimotor Connections After Neonatal Lesion in Rats
     
  8. Optimizing Paired Brain and Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Key Step to Restore Arm and Hand Function in People with Central Nervous System Injury
     
  9. Long-Lasting, Softening Spinal Cord Stimulators
     
  10. Paired Brain and Spinal Cord Stimulation to Augment Motor Responses in Humans