A leech model for homeostatic plasticity and motor network recovery after loss of descending inputs

Motor networks below the site of spinal cord injury (SCI) and their reconfiguration after loss of central inputs are poorly understood but remain of great interest in SCI research. Harley et al. (J Neurophysiol 113: 3610-3622, 2015) report a striking locomotor recovery paradigm in the leech Hirudo v...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neurophysiology 2016-04, Vol.115 (4), p.1752-1754
Main Author: Lane, Brian J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Afferent Pathways - injuries
Afferent Pathways - physiology
Animals
Locomotion - physiology
Motor Neurons - physiology
Neuro Forum
Neuronal Plasticity - physiology
Recovery of Function - physiology
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Summary:Motor networks below the site of spinal cord injury (SCI) and their reconfiguration after loss of central inputs are poorly understood but remain of great interest in SCI research. Harley et al. (J Neurophysiol 113: 3610-3622, 2015) report a striking locomotor recovery paradigm in the leech Hirudo verbena with features that are functionally analogous to SCI. They propose that this well-established neurophysiological system could potentially be repurposed to provide a complementary model to investigate basic principles of homeostatic compensation relevant to SCI research.
ISSN:0022-3077
1522-1598
DOI:10.1152/jn.00851.2015