Transformation of nonfunctional spinal circuits into functional states after the loss of brain input

Spinal cord injury disrupts input from the brain to the spinal motor circuitry, but that circuitry and pattern generator circuits still exist below the lesion. A regime combining electrical and serotonergic agonist stimulation of the lesioned spinal cord with intensive treadmill training enabled rats to recover weight-bearing stepping that was very similar to normal walking. After complete spinal cord transections that removed all supraspinal...