Stimulation of spinal cord according to recorded theta hippocampal rhythm during rat move on treadmill.

Objectives: Several studies have revealed that after spinal cord injury (SCI), in acute and sub-acute phase the spinal cord neurons below the injury are alive and could stimulate by use of electrical pulses. Spinal cord electrical stimulation could generate movement for paralyzed limbs and is a rehabilitation strategy for paralyzed patients. An innovative idea for controlling spinal cord electrical stimulation onset time is presented in current study.

Methods: In our method, the time of applying electrical pulse on the spinal cord is according to rat behavioral movement and two movements behaviors are recognized only based on rat EEG theta rhythm on the treadmill line. Briefly, 5 rats were placed on the treadmill and the animals experienced zero or 12 m/min speeds.

Results: These speeds were recognized based on EEG signals and off-line periodogram analysis. Finally, the electrical stimulation pulses had been applied to the spinal cord if the results of the EEG analysis had detected running behavior.

Conclusions: These findings may guide future research in utilizing theta rhythms for the recognition of animal motor behavior and designing electrical stimulation systems based on it.