2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Development of a neuromodulation method for facilitation of corticospinal plasticity
| Project/Area Number |
20K19412
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Review Section |
Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
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| Research Institution | Osaka University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | brain stimulation / neuroprosthetics / upper-limb / rehabilitation / neuroplasticity |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
We developed a method for paired activation of the brain and functional electrical stimulation (FES) to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of upper limb motor recovery using Hebbian learning. We first tested the brain-controlled FES system and demonstrated that FES rapidly induced corticospinal excitability modulation. We then compared non-invasive brain stimulation to activate the motor cortex (M1) with FES using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) protocol. Our results showed that paired activation of cortical circuits and FES is most effective in neuromodulation. We also developed a novel technique to activate the spinal circuits which is called transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS).
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| Free Research Field |
neuroplasticity
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
Our research findings elucidated the underlying mechanisms implemented through paired brain and FES or tSCS. This can be used in neurorehabilitation practice to rapidly neuromodulate the central nervous system excitability, which could improve motor function after neurological injuries.
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