2023/02/28 by Mohini Sengupta, Martha W. Bagnall · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation #Spinal Cord Injury Research #Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
paper · pdf · doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-083122-025325
openalex publication_date 2023/02/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
The spinal cord is home to the intrinsic networks for locomotion. An animal in which the spinal cord has been fully severed from the brain can still produce rhythmic, patterned locomotor movements as long as some excitatory drive is provided, such as physical, pharmacological, or electrical stimuli. Yet it remains a challenge to define the underlying circuitry that produces these movements because the spinal cord contains a wide variety of neuron classes whose patterns of interconnectivity are still poorly understood. Computational models of locomotion accordingly rely on untested assumptions about spinal neuron network element identity and connectivity. In this review, we consider the classes of spinal neurons, their interconnectivity, and the significance of their circuit connections along the long axis of the spinal cord. We suggest several lines of analysis to move toward a definitive understanding of the spinal network.