02449nas a2200241   4500008004100000022001400041245010300055210006900158260001200227300001600239490000700255520172600262653001301988653001502001653002502016653001502041653001902056653001502075100002302090700002502113700002102138856004802159       2013                        eng d  a1529-240100aOperant conditioning of a spinal reflex can improve locomotion after spinal cord injury in humans.0 aOperant conditioning of a spinal reflex can improve locomotion a  c02/2013  a2365–23750 v333 aOperant conditioning protocols can modify the activity of specific spinal cord pathways and can thereby affect behaviors that use these pathways. To explore the therapeutic application of these protocols, we studied the impact of down-conditioning the soleus H-reflex in people with impaired locomotion caused by chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. After a baseline period in which soleus H-reflex size was measured and locomotion was assessed, subjects completed either 30 H-reflex down-conditioning sessions (DC subjects) or 30 sessions in which the H-reflex was simply measured [unconditioned (UC) subjects], and locomotion was reassessed. Over the 30 sessions, the soleus H-reflex decreased in two-thirds of the DC subjects (a success rate similar to that in normal subjects) and remained smaller several months later. In these subjects, locomotion became faster and more symmetrical, and the modulation of EMG activity across the step cycle increased bilaterally. Furthermore, beginning about halfway through the conditioning sessions, all of these subjects commented spontaneously that they were walking faster and farther in their daily lives, and several noted less clonus, easier stepping, and/or other improvements. The H-reflex did not decrease in the other DC subjects or in any of the UC subjects; and their locomotion did not improve. These results suggest that reflex-conditioning protocols can enhance recovery of function after incomplete spinal cord injuries and possibly in other disorders as well. Because they are able to target specific spinal pathways, these protocols could be designed to address each individual's particular deficits, and might thereby complement other rehabilitation methods.10aLearning10aLocomotion10aoperant conditioning10aplasticity10aRehabilitation10aspasticity1 aThompson, Aiko, K.1 aPomerantz, Ferne, R.1 aWolpaw, Jonathan  uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2339266601738nas a2200241   4500008004100000022001400041245009800055210006900153260001200222300001400234490000700248520099700255653001501252653003101267653001801298653001401316653003001330100002101360700002301381700002101404700002301425856004801448       2012                        eng d  a1097-459800aH-reflex modulation in the human medial and lateral gastrocnemii during standing and walking.0 aHreflex modulation in the human medial and lateral gastrocnemii   c01/2012  a116–1250 v453 aINTRODUCTION:
The soleus H-reflex is dynamically modulated during walking. However, modulation of the gastrocnemii H-reflexes has not been studied systematically.
METHODS:
The medial and lateral gastrocnemii (MG and LG) and soleus H-reflexes were measured during standing and walking in humans.
RESULTS:
Maximum H-reflex amplitude was significantly smaller in MG (mean 1.1 mV) or LG (1.1 mV) than in soleus (3.3 mV). Despite these size differences, the reflex amplitudes of the three muscles were positively correlated. The MG and LG H-reflexes were phase- and task-dependently modulated in ways similar to the soleus H-reflex.
CONCLUSIONS:
Although there are anatomical and physiological differences between the soleus and gastrocnemii muscles, the reflexes of the three muscles are similarly modulated during walking and between standing and walking. Our findings support the hypothesis that these reflexes are synergistically modulated during walking to facilitate ongoing movement.10aLocomotion10aphase-dependent modulation10aspinal reflex10asynergist10atask-dependent modulation1 aMakihara, Yukiko1 aSegal, Richard, L.1 aWolpaw, Jonathan1 aThompson, Aiko, K.  uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22190317