Neuromodulation of the Cortex and Spinal Cord
Father Flanagan's Boys' Home
Summary
Specific Aim 1: To further quantify the difference in the sensorimotor cortical activity, spinal cord activity, and corticospinal coherence of persons with CP. Overall hypotheses: The sensorimotor cortical activity, spinal cord activity, and corticospinal coherence will be uncharacteristic in persons with CP when compared with neurotypical controls. Furthermore, the extent of the alterations in the sensorimotor cortical activity, spinal cord activity, and corticospinal coherence will be tightly linked with the clinical presentations of persons with CP. Specific Aim 2: To investigate the effect of transcutaneous current stimulation applied over the cortex and/or spinal cord on the sensorimotor cortical activity, spinal cord dynamics, and corticospinal coherence. Overall hypotheses: Compared with the sham controls, those receiving the transcutaneous current stimulation will demonstrate alterations in the strength of the sensorimotor cortical activity, spinal cord activity, and corticospinal coherence. Moreover, the extent of the alterations in the sensorimotor cortical activity, spinal cord activity, and corticospinal coherence will be tightly linked with the clinical presentations of persons with CP.
Description
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common pediatric motor disability, affecting 3.6 per 1000 children, and is typically a result of an insult to the developing brain. The brain insult impacts the precision of the motor actions and can have a lifelong impact on the precision of the motor actions. Although these motor deficits are vastly documented clinically, the underlying neurophysiological changes responsible for the emergence of these impairments are less understood. Our experimental work over the past decade has been directed at filling this knowledge gap. For example, magnetoencephalographic…