Spinal and supraspinal interactions ensuring balance control during standing

无论我们是站立、行走还是移动手臂，平衡都会不断受到损害。我们的中枢神经系统已经发展出防止或快速补偿平衡扰动的机制，并确保稳定的直立姿势。先前的研究表明，平衡控制机制的一部分位于大脑，其他部分位于脊髓。然而，我们仍然不知道这两个结构中的神经元网络是如何相互作用的。这些信息是必不可少的，因为在日常生活中，这些网络不是相互独立的，而是可能相互影响，以传达适当的平衡反应。因此，在没有这些知识的情况下，我们对神经控制平衡的理解仍然是零碎的。为了填补这一空白，我将启动一个研究项目，旨在了解位于大脑和脊髓中的神经元网络之间的相互作用。作为第一步，我将具体评估大脑中的神经元如何影响位于脊髓的神经元的活动。这些实验的结果将使加拿大人受益，因为它将提供丰富的信息，从而更好和更全面地了解正常的平衡控制。此外，这项研究计划将培养高素质的人才，特别是研究生和本科生，他们将有能力成为未来的教授和研究人员，并继续推动神经科学领域的发展。

Whether we simply stand, walk or move our arms, balance is constantly compromised. Our central nervous system has developed mechanisms to prevent or quickly compensate for perturbations of balance and ensure stable upright posture. Previous studies have demonstrated that parts of balance control mechanisms are located in the brain and other parts in the spinal cord. However, we still do not know how neuronal networks located in both structures interact with each other. This information is essential because in everyday life those networks do not act independently of each other but rather are likely to influence each other in order to convey the proper balance reactions. Thus without that knowledge we remain with fragmentary understanding of the neural control of balance and to fill this gap, I will start a research program that aims at understanding interactions between neuronal networks located in the brain and spinal cord. As a first step, I will specifically assess how neurons in the brain influence the activity of neurons located in the spinal cord. The outcome of these experiments will beneficiate Canadians as it will provide a wealth of information leading to a better and more integrated understanding of normal balance control. Moreover, this research program will enable training of highly qualified personnel, notably graduate and undergraduate students who will be well equipped to become future professors and researchers and continue to bring forward the field of Neurosciences.