Editor's Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience Article Date: 01 Jun 2012 - 9:00 PDT

Current ratings for: 'Paralyzed Rat With Spinal Injury Walks Again With Robot Rehabilitation'

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The scientists, from the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology reported their findings in the journal Science.

The authors explained that researchers and experts have been trying for years to find ways of getting patients with spinal cord injuries to walk again. Approximately half of all human spinal cord injuries lead to long-term paralysis.

Although previous studies have had some success in restoring some kind of movement in the limbs, even helping patients to walk in a limited way, this experiment uses a completely novel technique.

In an Abstract in the journal Science, the authors wrote:

The scientists managed to get the rats to walk and climb stairs. They stimulated the spinal nerve circuits of rats, and used physical training. Electrodes had been implanted and the rats were given injections with a neuron-activating chemical mix.

The scientists fitted the rats with harnesses, so that their back legs could reach the ground. They were then placed on a conveyor belt which only moved if their feet pushed (reflexive stepping). They were also placed on stationary ground. In order to reach a piece of chocolate (on fixed ground) they would have to move their hind legs.

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Paralyzed Rat With Spinal Injury Walks Again With Robot Rehabilitation

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