Functional mechanisms of neural networks in the spinal cord
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The in vitro spinal cord preparation, under certain conditions, can generate complex physiological programmes, such as the initial processing of pain stimuli or the generation of locomotor patterns of activity. Using electrophysiological techniques which allow recording of bioelectrical activity from single neurons as well as from clusters of neurons, we study how sensorial information of a painful nature is progressively reinforced, thus generating persistent pain. Furthermore, we study the expression of rhythmic patterns of activity related to locomotion which rely on alternation of excitation among distinct groups of motoneurons. Mechanisms which enable the spinal network to perform persistent rhythmic activity after suppression of spinal inhibition are also under investigation. In this context our research is mainly directed to the role of various neurotransmitters such as glutamate, GABA, and glycine in the operation of spinal networks in normal conditions or after an experimental lesion of the spinal cord. This project is in collaboration with IMFR (Udine) for clinical rehabilitation of spinal lesion people (SPINAL programme).
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