New techniques to study and assess the spinal and cortical sensorimotor integration

Jamshidi Fard, Ali Reza (1994) New techniques to study and assess the spinal and cortical sensorimotor integration. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Abstract

In this work some aspects of the application of magnetic stimulation to the motor cortex and spinal cord have been investigated. Objectives measures of Motor Root Conduction Time (MRCT), Motor Nerve Conduction Time (MNCT), Central Motor Conduction Time (CMCT), have been made for 16 limb muscles, and MEPs/CMAPs ratio for Abductor pollicis brevis and Abductor digiti minimi muscles (APB and ADM). Functional excitation maps of lumbrosacral and cervical plexuses have been prepared for 16 muscles and cortical motor areas for two intrinsic band muscles, APB and ADM were mapped. Investigation of the effects of differential conditioning on the EMG responses of these two muscles, elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation with median nerve stimulation, showed a trimodal pattern of facilitation.

In laboratory research, an isolated mammalian brain stem-spinal cord preparation was used to investigate the descending control of motor activity. These preparations offer potential for investigations of several parameters of neuronal function not possible in vivo and analysis of motor control systems in mammals will be facilitated by their development. The technique is particularly suited for the study of; spinal pathways, spinal segmental reflexes and the descending influences over spinal sensori-motor integration. Using hamster preparations, electro-physiological aspects of spinal segmental reflexes, and factors which might influence them were studied. The spread of primary afferent fibres through the dorsal columns was investigated and some preliminary studies of supraspinal controls over segmental activity were made.

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