# Intraspinal Microstimulation for Multi-modal Rehabilitation

> **NIH NIH R01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $78,750

## Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in motor impairments and neuropathic pain. These conditions are
related to changes in neural activity in regions of the spinal cord that control motor output and sensory
processing. Generally, there is too little neural transmission in spinal motor pathways below the lesion,
whereas there is excessive, inappropriate neural transmission in pain pathways below the lesion.
 It has previously been shown that delivery of small amounts of electrical current directly to motor
regions of the spinal cord can increase neural transmission in motor pathways. This type of spinal stimulation
is called therapeutic intraspinal microstimulation. Over time, intraspinal microstimulation can enhance motor
recovery after SCI. The overall hypothesis of this proposal is that intraspinal microstimulation for motor
rehabilitation can also be designed to reduce transmission in spinal pain pathways. If confirmed, this could lead
to development of neuroprosthetic therapies for multimodal rehabilitation after SCI.
 The primary goal of this proposal is to determine the extent to which intraspinal microstimulation can
reduce neural transmission in spinal pain pathways. These effects have not previously been characterized. It is
known that intraspinal microstimulation activates a widespread network of non-pain-related sensory pathways
that bridge the motor regions of the spinal cord and the pain-processing regions of the spinal cord. Activation of
this network by peripheral nerve or spinal surface stimulation can reduce transmission in spinal pain pathways.
This proposal will determine the extent to which intraspinal microstimulation can reduce transmission in pain
pathways through activation of this network.
 This proposal will also determine whether intraspinal microstimulation promotes release and/or use of a
class of natural neurotransmitters known as the monoamines. Monoamines have the unique ability to
simultaneously reduce transmission in spinal pain pathways while increasing transmission in spinal motor
pathways. Neurons that utilize monoamines have terminations throughout the network of neurons activated by
intraspinal microstimulation. All hypotheses will be tested in vivo in anesthetized rats with chronic, motor-
incomplete SCI and in rats without neurological injury. Rats of both sexes will be included. The approach
includes electrophysiological, computational, pharmacological and biochemical analyses of neural activity.
 This proposal will advance the understanding of how intraspinal microstimulation impacts highly
interconnected spinal sensorimotor networks. If support for the hypotheses is obtained, this proposal will have
also identified a new strategy for neuroprosthetic therapies to deliver multimodal rehabilitation benefits. This
would address two critical unmet needs of the SCI population: non-opioid treatments for SCI-related
neuropathic pain and multimodal rehabilitation. It would also overcome a key limitation of cli...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10517182
- **Project number:** 3R01NS111234-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jacob Graves McPherson
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $78,750
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-08-15 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10517182

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10517182, Intraspinal Microstimulation for Multi-modal Rehabilitation (3R01NS111234-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10517182. Licensed CC0.

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