Plasticity of spinal circuits induced by peripheral afferent inputs

• Project/Area Number: 26350564
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Kyushu Institute of Technology (2016); The University of Tokyo (2014-2015)
• Principal Investigator: OBATA Hiroki 九州工業大学, 教養教育院, 准教授 (70455377)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2016)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,940,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,140,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥2,730,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥630,000)
• Keywords: 脊髄反射 / 可塑性 / 末梢神経電気刺激 / 受動ステッピング / 相反性抑制 / 位相依存性 / 脊髄

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of the present study is to determine whether the effects of ENS (electrical nerve stimulation) during passive stepping are dependent on the timing of the stimulation during the stepping cycle. Passive stepping on the treadmill was assisted by a robotic driven-gait orthosis for 30 min. Peripheral nerve stimulation was applied to the right common peroneal nerve (CPN) during the swing phase (ENSswing) and stance phase (ENSstance) of the step cycle in the right leg. During each intervention, spinal reciprocal inhibition (RI) to the soleus muscle was assessed before (i.e., baseline) and after the interventions. The result showed a phase-dependent effect of ENS of the CPN on the short-term plasticity of spinal RI during passive stepping. Compared to the baseline, the amount of RI was increased after the ENSswing intervention, whereas it was decreased after the ENSstance intervention.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Short-term effect of electrical nerve stimulation on spinal reciprocal inhibition during robot-assisted passive stepping in humans. (2015)
  • Author(s): Obata H, Ogawa T, Kitamura, Masugi Y, Takahashi M, Kawashima N, Nakazawa K
  • Journal Title: European Journal of Neuroscience Volume: 42(6) Issue: 6 Pages: 2283-2288
  • DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13000
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] Short-term effect of repetitive electrical nerve stimulation on spinal reciprocal inhibition depends on the phase of passive stepping (2016)
  • Author(s): Hiroki OBATA
  • Organizer: Neuroscience 2016
  • Place of Presentation: San Diego Convention Center (USA)
  • Year and Date: 2016-11-12
  • Int'l Joint Research