Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 2014 · DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2014.00025 · Published: March 18, 2014
This review discusses how operant conditioning, a type of learning, can be used to modify spinal reflexes. Initially a basic science endeavor, it has evolved into a potential therapeutic approach for spinal cord injuries. The study emphasizes the synergy between basic and clinical research, highlighting the importance of understanding how the nervous system adapts.
Operant conditioning of spinal reflexes may offer a novel approach for improving motor function in individuals with spinal cord injuries.
Conditioning protocols can be designed to specifically target and modify activity in specific CNS pathways, allowing for personalized therapeutic interventions.
Studying reflex conditioning can provide insights into the role of the spinal cord in behavior and how different behaviors are acquired and maintained.