Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Analysis Of Secondary Neurodegeneration In Spinal Cord Mri In Post-Stroke Patients, Sarvani Uppati, Sravani Mannuru, Kelsey Baker

Research Colloquium

Background: Stroke, also termed cerebral infarction, results in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in the brain at area of the infarct and peri-infarct regions. It has also been established that damage in the motor pathways including the corticospinal tract contribute to motor deficits in post-stroke patients. Recent research has recognized the involvement of alternate sensorimotor pathways in the spinal cord that underline disease progression and the degree of functional recovery post-stroke. Evaluating the role of alternate sensorimotor pathways in the brain can be challenging, since the pathways remained crossed until they reach the spinal cord. Although MRI has been used to examine …

Are You Numb Yet?, Monica Lozano Garcia, Chelsea Erazo Macias, Victoria Cuello, Kelsey Baker

Research Colloquium

Background: Recent research has suggested that after a spinal cord injury (SCI), detrimental reorganization of neural structures favors stronger muscles while inhibiting weaker muscles. Temporary deafferentation (TD) is a technique that uses short-term anesthesia, to inactivate sensation pathways from stronger muscles so that the brain releases inhibition that was placed on weaker muscles, thereby strengthening them. Here, we seek to evaluate when peak TD is achieved to define when strength-building exercises on a weaker muscle should begin.

Methods: 5% lidocaine cream was applied to the right biceps of 7 healthy volunteers. We measured sensation every 15 minutes after …