Press Release

Aya Takeoka at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS) in Japan and colleagues at Neuro-Electronics Research Flanders (NERF, empowered by IMEC, KU Leuven, and VIB) have discovered the neural circuitry in the spinal cord that allows brain-independent motor learning. Published in Science on April 11, the study found two critical groups of spinal cord neurons, one necessary for new adaptive learning, and another for recalling adaptations once they have been learned. The findings could help scientists develop ways to assist motor recovery after spinal cord injury.

A research team led by Aya Takeoka (NERF, empowered by IMEC, KU Leuven, and VIB) has uncovered that specific types of nerve cells in the spinal cord undergo a switch after injury. This switch turns off communication with motor neurons that stimulate muscles and, therefore movement. Importantly, research in mice suggests that reversing this switch can dramatically improve functional recovery, especially in combination with physical training. The findings offer important insights for rehabilitation strategies for paraplegic patients and are published today in Nature Neuroscience.