Chapter 8 The spinal locomotor CPG: a target after spinal cord injury

Abstract

The spinal locomotor circuits depend on a central network often referred as the “central pattern generator network” (CPG), but there is also a powerful sensory component from afferents activated during the locomotor movement. This sensory input influences the duration of the support phase and the degree of muscle activation. In spinal animals, the sensory component is of critical importance and accounts for the fact that spinal animals can adapt to the treadmill speed within a certain range. This chapter extrapolates that the spinal cord of all vertebrates including humans contains the necessary circuitry to provide the basic locomotor coordination. To achieve a dynamic interaction between the brainstem locomotor centers and the spinal cord CPGs, a regeneration of part of the fast reticulospinal glutamatergic axons is required.