Fundamental study on plasticity of the human spinal cord for motor recovery in patients with spinal cord injury

• Project/Area Number: 22700567
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2011); Shibaura Institute of Technology (2010)
• Principal Investigator: OBATA Hiroki 東京大学, 大学院・総合文化研究科, 助教 (70455377)
• Project Period (FY): 2010 – 2011
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2011)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000); Fiscal Year 2011: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2010: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000)
• Keywords: リハビリテーション医学 / 脊髄 / 可塑性

Research Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether plasticity in the human spinal cord can be induced by non-invasive stimulation. Paired-associative stimulation(PAS) consisted of the electrical nerve stimulation to the posterior tibial never and the transcranial magnetic stimulation(TMS) over the primary motor cortex was applied with some interstimulus intervals(ISI) for fifteen minutes. It was shown that the size of motor evoked potentials by TMS in the soleus muscle changed depending on ISI. The present study showed possible existence of stimulation-induced short-term plasticity in the human spinal cord.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Aging effects on posture-related modulation of stretch reflex excitability in the ankle muscles in humans. (2012)
  • Author(s): Obata H, Kawashima N, Ohtsuki T, Nakazawa K
  • Journal Title: Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology Volume: 32(3) Pages: 264-8
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Asymmetrical modulation of corticospinal excitability in the contracting and resting contralateral wrist flexors during unilateral shortening, lengthening and isometric contractions. (2010)
  • Author(s): Uemats A, Obata H, Endoh T, Kitamura T, Hortobagyi T, Nakazwa K, Suzuki S
  • Journal Title: Experimental Brain Research Volume: 206(1)
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 連合性ペア刺激による皮質脊髄路の興奮性変化～筋随意収縮の影響について～ (2011)
  • Author(s): 小幡博基、中澤公孝
  • Organizer: 日本体力医学会大会
  • Place of Presentation: 山口
  • Year and Date: 2011-09-16
• [Presentation] 連合性ペア刺激による皮質脊髄路の興奮性変化～筋随意収縮の影響について～ (2011)
  • Author(s): 小幡博基
  • Organizer: 日本体力医学会大会
  • Place of Presentation: 海峡メッセ下関(山口)
  • Year and Date: 2011-09-16
• [Presentation] Spike-timing dependent changes in the excitability of the spinal stretch reflex (2010)
  • Author(s): Obata H, Nozaki D, Kawashima N, Nakazawa K
  • Organizer: International Congress of Clinical Neurophysiology
  • Place of Presentation: Kobe, Japan
  • Year and Date: 2010-11-01
• [Presentation] Spike-timing dependent changes in the excitability o the spinal stretch reflex (2010)
  • Author(s): 小幡博基、野崎大地、山本紳一郎、米田隆志、河島則天、中澤公孝、緒方徹
  • Organizer: 国際臨床神経生理学会
  • Place of Presentation: 神戸国際会議場(兵庫県)
  • Year and Date: 2010-11-01