Editorial: Neuromodulatory Control of Spinal Function in Health and Disease

• Authors: Brian R. Noga, University of Miami; Shawn Hochman, Emory University; Hans Hultborn, University of Copenhagen
• Journal Title: Frontiers in Neural Circuits
• Volume: Volume 13
• Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A. | 2020-01-22, Pages 84-84
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.3389/fncir.2019.00084
• Subjects: Biology, Neuroscience; Engineering, Biomedical; Biology, Physiology
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Neurosciences; Neurosciences & Neurology; spinal cord; neuromodulation; monoamines; descending and segmental pathways; sensorimotor systems; locomotion; spinal cord injury; pain

Abstract

The classical ionotropic transmitters glutamate/ACh (acetylcholine) and glycine/GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid) are, respectively, responsible for the primary excitatory and inhibitory synaptic actions within spinal cord anatomical circuits, be they simple reflexes as the monosynaptic stretch reflex (and its reciprocal inhibition of antagonists), or more distributed and integrated networks along autonomic, sensory, and motor systems. The selection and complex spatiotemporal recruitment of intrinsic spinal circuits (e.g., locomotion) are profoundly sculpted by neuromodulation acting both at pre- and post-synaptic levels.