Neural sensory stimulation does not interfere with the H-reflex in individuals with lower limb amputation
IntroductionIndividuals with lower limb loss experience an increased risk of falls partly due to the lack of sensory feedback from their missing foot. It is possible to restore plantar sensation perceived as originating from the missing foot by directly interfacing with the peripheral nerves remaini...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-09-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1276308/full |
| _version_ | 1797674055975829504 |
|---|---|
| author | Suzhou Li Suzhou Li Ronald J. Triolo Ronald J. Triolo Hamid Charkhkar Hamid Charkhkar |
| author_facet | Suzhou Li Suzhou Li Ronald J. Triolo Ronald J. Triolo Hamid Charkhkar Hamid Charkhkar |
| author_sort | Suzhou Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionIndividuals with lower limb loss experience an increased risk of falls partly due to the lack of sensory feedback from their missing foot. It is possible to restore plantar sensation perceived as originating from the missing foot by directly interfacing with the peripheral nerves remaining in the residual limb, which in turn has shown promise in improving gait and balance. However, it is yet unclear how these electrically elicited plantar sensation are integrated into the body’s natural sensorimotor control reflexes. Historically, the H-reflex has been used as a model for investigating sensorimotor control. Within the spinal cord, an array of inputs, including plantar cutaneous sensation, are integrated to produce inhibitory and excitatory effects on the H-reflex.MethodsIn this study, we characterized the interplay between electrically elicited plantar sensations and this intrinsic reflex mechanism. Participants adopted postures mimicking specific phases of the gait cycle. During each posture, we electrically elicited plantar sensation, and subsequently the H-reflex was evoked both in the presence and absence of these sensations.ResultsOur findings indicated that electrically elicited plantar sensations did not significantly alter the H-reflex excitability across any of the adopted postures.ConclusionThis suggests that individuals with lower limb loss can directly benefit from electrically elicited plantar sensation during walking without disrupting the existing sensory signaling pathways that modulate reflex responses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:54:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4634eb109d3f4cab9d81d2b33888e406 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T21:54:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-4634eb109d3f4cab9d81d2b33888e4062023-09-26T04:48:40ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2023-09-011710.3389/fnins.2023.12763081276308Neural sensory stimulation does not interfere with the H-reflex in individuals with lower limb amputationSuzhou Li0Suzhou Li1Ronald J. Triolo2Ronald J. Triolo3Hamid Charkhkar4Hamid Charkhkar5Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United StatesLouis Stokes Cleveland Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United StatesLouis Stokes Cleveland Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United StatesDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United StatesLouis Stokes Cleveland Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, United StatesIntroductionIndividuals with lower limb loss experience an increased risk of falls partly due to the lack of sensory feedback from their missing foot. It is possible to restore plantar sensation perceived as originating from the missing foot by directly interfacing with the peripheral nerves remaining in the residual limb, which in turn has shown promise in improving gait and balance. However, it is yet unclear how these electrically elicited plantar sensation are integrated into the body’s natural sensorimotor control reflexes. Historically, the H-reflex has been used as a model for investigating sensorimotor control. Within the spinal cord, an array of inputs, including plantar cutaneous sensation, are integrated to produce inhibitory and excitatory effects on the H-reflex.MethodsIn this study, we characterized the interplay between electrically elicited plantar sensations and this intrinsic reflex mechanism. Participants adopted postures mimicking specific phases of the gait cycle. During each posture, we electrically elicited plantar sensation, and subsequently the H-reflex was evoked both in the presence and absence of these sensations.ResultsOur findings indicated that electrically elicited plantar sensations did not significantly alter the H-reflex excitability across any of the adopted postures.ConclusionThis suggests that individuals with lower limb loss can directly benefit from electrically elicited plantar sensation during walking without disrupting the existing sensory signaling pathways that modulate reflex responses.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1276308/fullH-reflexsensory restorationlower limb amputationneural interfaceneuroprosthesisplantar sensation |
| spellingShingle | Suzhou Li Suzhou Li Ronald J. Triolo Ronald J. Triolo Hamid Charkhkar Hamid Charkhkar Neural sensory stimulation does not interfere with the H-reflex in individuals with lower limb amputation Frontiers in Neuroscience H-reflex sensory restoration lower limb amputation neural interface neuroprosthesis plantar sensation |
| title | Neural sensory stimulation does not interfere with the H-reflex in individuals with lower limb amputation |
| title_full | Neural sensory stimulation does not interfere with the H-reflex in individuals with lower limb amputation |
| title_fullStr | Neural sensory stimulation does not interfere with the H-reflex in individuals with lower limb amputation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neural sensory stimulation does not interfere with the H-reflex in individuals with lower limb amputation |
| title_short | Neural sensory stimulation does not interfere with the H-reflex in individuals with lower limb amputation |
| title_sort | neural sensory stimulation does not interfere with the h reflex in individuals with lower limb amputation |
| topic | H-reflex sensory restoration lower limb amputation neural interface neuroprosthesis plantar sensation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1276308/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT suzhouli neuralsensorystimulationdoesnotinterferewiththehreflexinindividualswithlowerlimbamputation AT suzhouli neuralsensorystimulationdoesnotinterferewiththehreflexinindividualswithlowerlimbamputation AT ronaldjtriolo neuralsensorystimulationdoesnotinterferewiththehreflexinindividualswithlowerlimbamputation AT ronaldjtriolo neuralsensorystimulationdoesnotinterferewiththehreflexinindividualswithlowerlimbamputation AT hamidcharkhkar neuralsensorystimulationdoesnotinterferewiththehreflexinindividualswithlowerlimbamputation AT hamidcharkhkar neuralsensorystimulationdoesnotinterferewiththehreflexinindividualswithlowerlimbamputation |