Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (Oct 2021)

Epidural Spinal Electrogram Provides Direct Spinal Recordings in Awake Human Participants

  • John F. Burke,
  • Nikhita Kunwar,
  • Maria S. Yaroshinsky,
  • Kenneth H. Louie,
  • Prasad Shirvalkar,
  • Prasad Shirvalkar,
  • Prasad Shirvalkar,
  • Paul Su,
  • Melanie Henry,
  • George Pasvankas,
  • Lawrence Poree,
  • Lines Jacques,
  • Doris D. Wang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.721076
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15

Abstract

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Little is known about the electrophysiological activity of the spinal cord during voluntary movement control in humans. We present a novel method for recording electrophysiological activity from the human spinal cord using implanted epidural electrodes during naturalistic movements including overground walking. Spinal electrograms (SEGs) were recorded from epidural electrodes implanted as part of a test trial for patients with chronic pain undergoing evaluation for spinal cord stimulation. Externalized ends of the epidural leads were connected to an external amplifier to capture SEGs. Electromyographic and accelerometry data from the upper and lower extremities were collected using wireless sensors and synchronized to the SEG data. Patients were instructed to perform various arm and leg movements while SEG and kinematic data were collected. This study proves the safety and feasibility of performing epidural spinal recordings from human subjects performing movement tasks.

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