Learning Within the Spinal Cord: Clinical Implications

描述（由申请人提供）：传统上， 被视为大脑和外围之间的管道，组织一些简单的 反射，但在其他方面对学习和行为贡献不大。然而，在这方面， 最近的研究表明，大量的信息处理发生在 在脊髓内，这个系统不仅调节传入神经， 传出的输入/输出在大脑的招标，但也适应自己的新的 环境关系。 脊髓内的学习可以使用具有以下特征的大鼠来研究： 第二胸椎处脊髓被切断反应-结果偶然性 当一条腿福尔斯的高度低于 预设标准。脊髓神经元似乎对这种工具性的 应急，为受试者很快学会保持他们的腿在一个弯曲的 位置，有效地减少暴露于冲击。这种工具性学习 事先暴露于突发性冲击会促进这一过程， 非偶然性休克看起来应急训练 有害的非偶然性刺激破坏行为电位。 拟议中的实验集中在培养和保存的机制， 脊髓内的行为可塑性以及这项工作的意义 用于脊髓损伤后功能的恢复。拟议的研究将 研究促进效应的保留，巴甫洛夫的影响， 突发事件，以及临床相关刺激（神经损伤， 炎症）影响行为潜能。有人建议，一些 神经化学系统（去甲肾上腺素能和/或血清素能）可能有助于保护 行为潜能实验将检验是否让这些系统 保护脊髓免受非偶然性有害物质的有害影响 刺激。最后，研究将探索潜在的机制， 免疫细胞化学技术（c-fos）和实验是否 手法影响挫伤后运动行为的恢复 损伤 希望通过研究发现促进和保护行为的机制， 脊髓内的可塑性将导致新的行为和 促进脊髓损伤后功能恢复的药物治疗 损伤

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Traditionally, the spinal cord has been viewed as a conduit between the brain and the periphery, organizing some simple reflexes but otherwise contributing little to learning and behavior. However, recent studies suggest that a great deal of information processing occurs within the spinal cord, and that this system not only tunes the afferent and efferent input/output at the brain's bidding but also adapts on its own to new environmental relations. Learning within the spinai cord can be studied using rats that have had the spinal cord cut at the second thoracic vertebra. A response-outcome contingency is established by applying shock to one hindleg whenever the leg falls below a preset criterion. Spinal neurons appear sensitive to this instrumental contingency, for subjects quickly learn to maintain their leg in a flexed position, effectively minimizing exposure to shock. This instrumental learning is facilitated by prior exposure to contingent shock and disrupted by noncontingent shock. It appears contingent training enables behavioral potential while noxious noncontingent stimuli undermine behavioral potential. The proposed experiments focus on the mechanisms that foster and preserve behavioral plasticity within the spinal cord and the implications of this work for the recovery of function after spinal cord injury. Studies proposed will examine the retention of the facilitory effect, the impact of Pavlovian contingencies, and whether clinically relevant stimuli (nerve injury, inflammation) affect behavioral potential. It is suggested that some neurochemical systems (noradrenergic, and/or serotonergic) may help preserve behavioral potential. Experiments will examine whether engaging these systems protects the spinal cord from the deleterious effects of noncontingent noxious stimuli. Finally, studies will explore the underlying mechanisms using immunocytochemical techniques (c-fos) and whether the experimental manipulations affect the recovery of locomotor behavior after a contusion injury. It is hoped that discovering the mechanisms that promote and protect behavioral plasticity within the spinal cord will lead to new behavioral and pharmacological treatments that foster recovery of function after spinal cord injury.