Control of rhythmic locomotor-like activity through intraspinal microstimulation with high frequency resolution

The use of epidural and intraspinal-cord stimulation for inducing locomotor-like activity is well established. However, the routine induction of the locomotor-like stepping remains as an open problem. This paper presents a method for routine induction of rhythmic activity by intraspinal stimulation. For this purpose, intraspinal microwires are implanted in the lumbo-sacral of seven rats. Unilateral alternating movement was generated through stimulating the ventral horn. Frequency response analysis of the CPG shows that precise control of stepping velocity can be obtained by stimulating the spinal cord with high frequency resolution. Moreover, the results show that the dynamics of movement is changed with changing the frequency of stimulation.