1
|
Yoshinaga Y, Sato N. Reach-to-Grasp and tactile discrimination task: A new task for the study of sensory-motor learning. Behav Brain Res 2024; 466:115007. [PMID: 38648867 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Although active touch in rodents arises from the forepaws as well as whiskers, most research on active touch only focuses on whiskers. This results in a paucity of tasks designed to assess the process of active touch with a forepaw. We develop a new experimental task, the Reach-to-Grasp and Tactile Discrimination task (RGTD task), to examine active touch with a forepaw in rodents, particularly changes in processes of active touch during motor skill learning. In the RGTD task, animals are required to (1) extend their forelimb to an object, (2) grasp the object, and (3) manipulate the grasped object with the forelimb. The animals must determine the direction of the manipulation based on active touch sensations arising during the period of the grasping. In experiment 1 of the present study, we showed that rats can learn the RGTD task. In experiment 2, we confirmed that the rats are capable of reversal learning of the RGTD task. The RGTD task shared most of the reaching movements involved with conventional forelimb reaching tasks. From the standpoint of a discrimination task, the RGTD task enables rigorous experimental control, for example by removing bias in the stimulus-response correspondence, and makes it possible to utilize diverse experimental procedures that have been difficult in prior tasks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yudai Yoshinaga
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kwansei Gakuin University, 1-1-155, Uegahara, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 662-8501, Japan; Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Japan
| | - Nobuya Sato
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Kwansei Gakuin University, 1-1-155, Uegahara, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 662-8501, Japan; Center for Applied Psychological Science (CAPS), Kwansei Gakuin University, 1-1-155, Uegahara, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Forghani R, Goodnight B, Latchoumane CFV, Karumbaiah L. AutoRG: An automatized reach-to-grasp platform technology for assessing forelimb motor function, neural circuit activation, and cognition in rodents. J Neurosci Methods 2023; 387:109798. [PMID: 36682731 PMCID: PMC10071513 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rodent reach-to-grasp function assessment is a translationally powerful model for evaluating neurological function impairments and recovery responses. Existing assessment platforms are experimenter-dependent, costly, or low-throughput with limited output measures. Further, a direct histologic comparison of neural activation has never been conducted between any novel, automated platform and the well-established single pellet skilled reach task (SRT). NEW METHOD To address these technological and knowledge gaps, we designed an open-source, low-cost Automatized Reach-to-Grasp (AutoRG) pull platform that reduces experimenter interventions and variability. We assessed reach-to-grasp function in rats across seven progressively difficult stages using AutoRG. We mapped AutoRG and SRT-activated motor circuitries in the rat brain using volumetric imaging of the immediate early gene-encoded Arc (activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated) protein. RESULTS Rats demonstrated robust forelimb reaching and pulling behavior after training in AutoRG. Reliable force versus time responses were recorded for individual reach events in real time, which were used to derive several secondary functional measures of performance. Moreover, we provide the first demonstration that for a training period of 30 min, AutoRG and SRT both engage similar neural responses in the caudal forelimb area (CFA), rostral forelimb area (RFA), and sensorimotor area (S1). CONCLUSION AutoRG is the first low-cost, open-source pull system designed for the scale-up of volitional forelimb motor function testing and characterization of rodent reaching behavior. The similarities in neuronal activation patterns observed in the rat motor cortex after SRT and AutoRG assessments validate the AutoRG as a rigorously characterized, scalable alternative to the conventional SRT and expensive commercial systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rameen Forghani
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, 425 River Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Braxton Goodnight
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, 425 River Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Charles-Francois Vincent Latchoumane
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, 425 River Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Georgia, 425, River Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Lohitash Karumbaiah
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, 425 River Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Animal and Dairy Science, College of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Georgia, 425, River Road, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Division of Neuroscience, Biomedical and Translational Sciences Institute, University of Georgia, 203 Pound Hall, 105 Foster Rd, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Adcock KS, Danaphongse T, Jacob S, Rallapalli H, Torres M, Haider Z, Seyedahmadi A, Morrison RA, Rennaker RL, Kilgard MP, Hays SA. Vagus nerve stimulation does not improve recovery of forelimb motor or somatosensory function in a model of neuropathic pain. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9696. [PMID: 35690673 PMCID: PMC9188565 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13621-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nerve injury affecting the upper limb is a leading cause of lifelong disability. Damage to the nerves in the arm often causes weakness and somatosensory dysfunction ranging from numbness to pain. Previous studies show that combining brief bursts of electrical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) with motor or tactile rehabilitation can restore forelimb function after median and ulnar nerve injury, which causes hyposensitivity of the ventral forelimb. Here, we sought to determine whether this approach would be similarly effective in a model of radial nerve injury that produces allodynia in the ventral forelimb. To test this, rats underwent complete transection of the radial nerve proximal to the elbow followed by tubular repair. In the first experiment, beginning ten weeks after injury, rats received six weeks of tactile rehabilitation, consisting of mechanical stimulation of either the dorsal or ventral region of the forepaw in the injured limb, with or without concurrent VNS. In a second experiment, a separate cohort of rats underwent six weeks of forelimb motor rehabilitative training with or without paired VNS. Contrary to findings in previous models of hyposensitivity, VNS therapy fails to improve recovery of either somatosensory or motor function in the forelimb after radial nerve injury. These findings describe initial evidence that pain may limit the efficacy of VNS therapy and thus highlight a characteristic that should be considered in future studies that seek to develop this intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S Adcock
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA.,School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Tanya Danaphongse
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Sarah Jacob
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Harshini Rallapalli
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Miranda Torres
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Zainab Haider
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Armin Seyedahmadi
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Robert A Morrison
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA.,School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Robert L Rennaker
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA.,School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Michael P Kilgard
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA.,School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA
| | - Seth A Hays
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas Biomedical Device Center, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA. .,School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA. .,Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080-3021, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Samejima S, Ievins AM, Boissenin A, Tolley NM, Khorasani A, Mondello SE, Moritz CT. Automated lever task with minimum antigravity movement for rats with cervical spinal cord injury. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 366:109433. [PMID: 34863839 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although there is currently no cure for paralysis due to spinal cord injury (SCI), the highest treatment priority is restoring arm and hand function for people with cervical SCI. Preclinical animal models provide an opportunity to test innovative treatments, but severe cervical injury models require significant time and effort to assess responses to novel interventions. Moreover, there is no behavioral task that can assess forelimb movement in rats with severe cervical SCI unable to perform antigravity movements. NEW METHOD We developed a novel lever pressing task for rats with severe cervical SCI. We employed an automated adaptive algorithm to train animals using open-source software and commercially available hardware. We found that using the adaptive training required only 13.3 ± 2.5 training days to achieve behavioral proficiency. The lever press task could quantify immediate and long-term improvements in severely impaired forelimb function effectively. This behavior platform has potential to facilitate rehabilitative training and assess effects of therapeutic modalities following SCI. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS There is no existing assessment aiming to quantify forelimb extension movement in rodents without function against gravity. We found that the new lever press task in the antigravity position could assess the severity of cervical SCI as well as the compensatory movement in the proximal forelimb less affected by the injury. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that the new behavioral task is capable of tracking the functional changes with various therapies in rats with severe forelimb impairments in a cost- and time-efficient manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soshi Samejima
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; UW Institute for Neural Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; The Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Aiva M Ievins
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Adrien Boissenin
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Nicholas M Tolley
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Abed Khorasani
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Sarah E Mondello
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Chet T Moritz
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; UW Institute for Neural Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; The Center for Neurotechnology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States; Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Radial nerve injury causes long-lasting forelimb sensory impairment and motor dysfunction in rats. Pain Rep 2021; 6:e957. [PMID: 35187377 PMCID: PMC8853629 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000000957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Peripheral nerve injury is a common cause of lifelong disability in the United States. Although the etiology varies, most traumatic nerve injuries occur in the upper limb and include damage to the radial nerve. In conjunction with the well-described effects of peripheral damage, nerve injuries are accompanied by changes in the central nervous system. A comprehensive understanding of the functional consequences of nerve injury is necessary to develop new therapeutic interventions. Objectives We sought to characterize changes in sensory and motor function and central neurophysiology after radial nerve injury in rats. Methods To evaluate somatosensory function in the forelimb, we assessed mechanical withdrawal threshold, spontaneous forelimb use, and cold sensitivity in rats 10 and 16 weeks after radial nerve injury. To evaluate motor function, we assessed performance on a forelimb supination task for up to 16 weeks after nerve injury. Physiological changes in the motor and somatosensory cortex were assessed using intracortical microstimulation and multiunit recordings, respectively. Results Our results indicate that radial nerve injury causes long-lasting sensory and motor dysfunction. These behavioral deficits are accompanied by abnormal cortical activity in the somatosensory and motor cortex. Conclusion Our results provide a novel characterization of functional deficits that are consistent with the clinical phenotype in patients with radial nerve injury and provide a framework for future studies to evaluate potential interventions.
Collapse
|
6
|
Pruitt DT, Danaphongse TT, Lutchman M, Patel N, Reddy P, Wang V, Parashar A, Rennaker RL, Kilgard MP, Hays SA. Optimizing Dosing of Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Stroke Recovery. Transl Stroke Res 2020; 12:65-71. [PMID: 32583333 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-020-00829-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) paired with rehabilitative training enhances recovery of function in models of stroke and is currently under investigation for use in chronic stroke patients. Dosing is critical in translation of pharmacological therapies, but electrical stimulation therapies often fail to comprehensively explore dosing parameters in preclinical studies. Varying VNS parameters has non-monotonic effects on plasticity in the central nervous system, which may directly impact efficacy for stroke. We sought to optimize stimulation intensity to maximize recovery of motor function in a model of ischemic stroke. The study design was preregistered prior to beginning data collection (DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/BMJEK ). After training on an automated assessment of forelimb function and receiving an ischemic lesion in motor cortex, rats were separated into groups that received rehabilitative training paired with VNS at distinct stimulation intensities (sham, 0.4 mA, 0.8 mA, or 1.6 mA). Moderate-intensity VNS at 0.8 mA enhanced recovery of function compared with all other groups. Neither 0.4 mA nor 1.6 mA VNS was sufficient to improve functional recovery compared with equivalent rehabilitation without VNS. These results demonstrate that moderate-intensity VNS delivered during rehabilitation improves recovery and defines an optimized intensity paradigm for clinical implementation of VNS therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David T Pruitt
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, BSB11 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.
| | - Tanya T Danaphongse
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, BSB11 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Megan Lutchman
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, BSB11 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Nishi Patel
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, BSB11 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Priyanka Reddy
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, BSB11 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Vanesse Wang
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, BSB11 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Anjana Parashar
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, BSB11 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Robert L Rennaker
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, BSB11 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.,Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Michael P Kilgard
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, BSB11 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.,School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Seth A Hays
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, BSB11 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.,Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, Richardson, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sindhurakar A, Butensky SD, Carmel JB. Automated Forelimb Tasks for Rodents: Current Advantages and Limitations, and Future Promise. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2019; 33:503-512. [PMID: 31189409 DOI: 10.1177/1545968319855034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Rodent tests of function have advanced our understanding of movement, largely through the human training and testing and manual assessment. Tools such as reaching and grasping of a food pellet have been widely adopted because they are effective and simple to use. However, these tools are time-consuming, subjective, and often qualitative. Automation of training, testing, and assessment has the potential to increase efficiency while ensuring tasks are objective and quantitative. We detail new methods for automating rodent forelimb tests, including the use of pellet dispensers, sensors, computer vision, and home cage systems. We argue that limitations in existing forelimb tasks are driving the innovations in automated systems. We further argue that automated tasks partially address these limitations, and we outline necessary precautions and remaining challenges when adopting these types of tasks. Finally, we suggest attributes of future automated rodent assessment tools that can enable widespread adoption and help us better understand forelimb function in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuel D Butensky
- 2 Donald & Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wen TC, Lall S, Pagnotta C, Markward J, Gupta D, Ratnadurai-Giridharan S, Bucci J, Greenwald L, Klugman M, Hill NJ, Carmel JB. Plasticity in One Hemisphere, Control From Two: Adaptation in Descending Motor Pathways After Unilateral Corticospinal Injury in Neonatal Rats. Front Neural Circuits 2018; 12:28. [PMID: 29706871 PMCID: PMC5906589 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2018.00028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
After injury to the corticospinal tract (CST) in early development there is large-scale adaptation of descending motor pathways. Some studies suggest the uninjured hemisphere controls the impaired forelimb, while others suggest that the injured hemisphere does; these pathways have never been compared directly. We tested the contribution of each motor cortex to the recovery forelimb function after neonatal injury of the CST. We cut the left pyramid (pyramidotomy) of postnatal day 7 rats, which caused a measurable impairment of the right forelimb. We used pharmacological inactivation of each motor cortex to test its contribution to a skilled reach and supination task. Rats with neonatal pyramidotomy were further impaired by inactivation of motor cortex in both the injured and the uninjured hemispheres, while the forelimb of uninjured rats was impaired only from the contralateral motor cortex. Thus, inactivation demonstrated motor control from each motor cortex. In contrast, physiological and anatomical interrogation of these pathways support adaptations only in the uninjured hemisphere. Intracortical microstimulation of motor cortex in the uninjured hemisphere of rats with neonatal pyramidotomy produced responses from both forelimbs, while stimulation of the injured hemisphere did not elicit responses from either forelimb. Both anterograde and retrograde tracers were used to label corticofugal pathways. There was no increased plasticity from the injured hemisphere, either from cortex to the red nucleus or the red nucleus to the spinal cord. In contrast, there were very strong CST connections to both halves of the spinal cord from the uninjured motor cortex. Retrograde tracing produced maps of each forelimb within the uninjured hemisphere, and these were partly segregated. This suggests that the uninjured hemisphere may encode separate control of the unimpaired and the impaired forelimbs of rats with neonatal pyramidotomy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tong-Chun Wen
- Motor Recovery Laboratory, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, United States
| | - Sophia Lall
- Motor Recovery Laboratory, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, United States
| | - Corey Pagnotta
- Motor Recovery Laboratory, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, United States
| | - James Markward
- Motor Recovery Laboratory, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, United States
| | - Disha Gupta
- Motor Recovery Laboratory, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, United States
| | | | - Jacqueline Bucci
- Motor Recovery Laboratory, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, United States
| | - Lucy Greenwald
- Motor Recovery Laboratory, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, United States
| | - Madelyn Klugman
- Motor Recovery Laboratory, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, United States
| | - N Jeremy Hill
- Motor Recovery Laboratory, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, United States
| | - Jason B Carmel
- Motor Recovery Laboratory, Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, United States.,Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ganzer PD, Darrow MJ, Meyers EC, Solorzano BR, Ruiz AD, Robertson NM, Adcock KS, James JT, Jeong HS, Becker AM, Goldberg MP, Pruitt DT, Hays SA, Kilgard MP, Rennaker RL. Closed-loop neuromodulation restores network connectivity and motor control after spinal cord injury. eLife 2018. [PMID: 29533186 PMCID: PMC5849415 DOI: 10.7554/elife.32058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recovery from serious neurological injury requires substantial rewiring of neural circuits. Precisely-timed electrical stimulation could be used to restore corrective feedback mechanisms and promote adaptive plasticity after neurological insult, such as spinal cord injury (SCI) or stroke. This study provides the first evidence that closed-loop vagus nerve stimulation (CLV) based on the synaptic eligibility trace leads to dramatic recovery from the most common forms of SCI. The addition of CLV to rehabilitation promoted substantially more recovery of forelimb function compared to rehabilitation alone following chronic unilateral or bilateral cervical SCI in a rat model. Triggering stimulation on the most successful movements is critical to maximize recovery. CLV enhances recovery by strengthening synaptic connectivity from remaining motor networks to the grasping muscles in the forelimb. The benefits of CLV persist long after the end of stimulation because connectivity in critical neural circuits has been restored. The spine houses a network of neurons that relays electric signals from the brain cells to the muscles. When the spine is injured, some of these neurons may be damaged and their connections to the muscles broken. As a result, the muscles they command become weak, and movement is impaired. It is possible to strengthen the remaining neural connections with physical rehabilitation, but the results are limited. Vagus nerve stimulation, VNS for short, is a new technique that could help people recuperate better after their spine is injured. The vagus nerve controls the heart, lungs and guts, and it reports the state of the body to the brain. When this nerve is electrically stimulated, it releases chemicals that can strengthen the neural connections between brain, spine and muscles, and even create new ones. This rewiring process is essential to repair or bypass the broken neural connections caused by a spine injury. However, it is still not clear how best to use VNS to optimize recovery. Here, Ganzer et al. study how VNS helps rats whose forelimbs are weakened after a spine injury. Three groups of rats go through physical rehabilitation, using their affected front paws to pull a handle and feed themselves. Two of these groups also receive VNS: their vagus nerve is stimulated either after the best trials (strongest pulls) or worst trials (weakest pulls). Compared to the rehab-only and the worst trials-VNS animals, the rats that receive VNS on the best trials while using their affected paw have many more neuronal connections between their brain and the muscles in this limb. These muscles also become much stronger. VNS during the movement improves recovery whether the rodents have one or two front limbs injured, and the benefits are long lasting. As the rats pull the handle, the neurons involved in the movement get activated: they then carry a molecular ‘signature’ that lasts for a short time. When VNS is applied during that window, it appears to help these neurons form new connections with each other, as well as strengthen existing ones. These improved connections mean the brain can communicate better with the muscles: movement is enhanced, which results in greater functional recovery compared to rehabilitation alone. VNS is already trialed in stroke patients, who have weakened muscles because their brain neurons are damaged. The work by Ganzer et al. provides crucial information on how VNS could ultimately improve the recovery and quality of life of people with spine injuries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick D Ganzer
- Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, United States.,Texas Biomedical Device Center, Richardson, United States
| | - Michael J Darrow
- Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, United States
| | - Eric C Meyers
- Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, United States.,Texas Biomedical Device Center, Richardson, United States
| | | | - Andrea D Ruiz
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, Richardson, United States
| | | | - Katherine S Adcock
- School of Behavioral Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, United States
| | - Justin T James
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, Richardson, United States
| | - Han S Jeong
- Texas Biomedical Device Center, Richardson, United States
| | - April M Becker
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - Mark P Goldberg
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, United States
| | - David T Pruitt
- Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, United States.,Texas Biomedical Device Center, Richardson, United States
| | - Seth A Hays
- Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, United States.,Texas Biomedical Device Center, Richardson, United States.,School of Behavioral Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, United States
| | - Michael P Kilgard
- Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, United States.,Texas Biomedical Device Center, Richardson, United States.,School of Behavioral Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, United States
| | - Robert L Rennaker
- Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, United States.,Texas Biomedical Device Center, Richardson, United States.,School of Behavioral Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Meyers EC, Solorzano BR, James J, Ganzer PD, Lai ES, Rennaker RL, Kilgard MP, Hays SA. Vagus Nerve Stimulation Enhances Stable Plasticity and Generalization of Stroke Recovery. Stroke 2018; 49:710-717. [PMID: 29371435 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.117.019202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Chronic impairment of the arm and hand is a common consequence of stroke. Animal and human studies indicate that brief bursts of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in conjunction with rehabilitative training improve recovery of motor function after stroke. In this study, we tested whether VNS could promote generalization, long-lasting recovery, and structural plasticity in motor networks. METHODS Rats were trained on a fully automated, quantitative task that measures forelimb supination. On task proficiency, unilateral cortical and subcortical ischemic lesions were administered. One week after ischemic lesion, rats were randomly assigned to receive 6 weeks of rehabilitative training on the supination task with or without VNS. Rats then underwent 4 weeks of testing on a task assessing forelimb strength to test generalization of recovery. Finally, the durability of VNS benefits was tested on the supination task 2 months after the cessation of VNS. After the conclusion of behavioral testing, viral tracing was performed to assess synaptic connectivity in motor networks. RESULTS VNS enhances plasticity in corticospinal motor networks to increase synaptic connectivity to musculature of the rehabilitated forelimb. Adding VNS more than doubled the benefit of rehabilitative training, and the improvements lasted months after the end of VNS. Pairing VNS with supination training also significantly improved performance on a similar, but untrained task that emphasized volitional forelimb strength, suggesting generalization of forelimb recovery. CONCLUSIONS This study provides the first evidence that VNS paired with rehabilitative training after stroke (1) doubles long-lasting recovery on a complex task involving forelimb supination, (2) doubles recovery on a simple motor task that was not paired with VNS, and (3) enhances structural plasticity in motor networks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Meyers
- From the Texas Biomedical Device Center (E.C.M., B.R.S., J.J., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science (E.C.M., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), and School of Behavioral Brain Sciences (J.J., R.L.R., M.P.K.), University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson.
| | - Bleyda R Solorzano
- From the Texas Biomedical Device Center (E.C.M., B.R.S., J.J., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science (E.C.M., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), and School of Behavioral Brain Sciences (J.J., R.L.R., M.P.K.), University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson
| | - Justin James
- From the Texas Biomedical Device Center (E.C.M., B.R.S., J.J., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science (E.C.M., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), and School of Behavioral Brain Sciences (J.J., R.L.R., M.P.K.), University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson
| | - Patrick D Ganzer
- From the Texas Biomedical Device Center (E.C.M., B.R.S., J.J., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science (E.C.M., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), and School of Behavioral Brain Sciences (J.J., R.L.R., M.P.K.), University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson
| | - Elaine S Lai
- From the Texas Biomedical Device Center (E.C.M., B.R.S., J.J., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science (E.C.M., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), and School of Behavioral Brain Sciences (J.J., R.L.R., M.P.K.), University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson
| | - Robert L Rennaker
- From the Texas Biomedical Device Center (E.C.M., B.R.S., J.J., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science (E.C.M., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), and School of Behavioral Brain Sciences (J.J., R.L.R., M.P.K.), University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson
| | - Michael P Kilgard
- From the Texas Biomedical Device Center (E.C.M., B.R.S., J.J., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science (E.C.M., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), and School of Behavioral Brain Sciences (J.J., R.L.R., M.P.K.), University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson
| | - Seth A Hays
- From the Texas Biomedical Device Center (E.C.M., B.R.S., J.J., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science (E.C.M., P.D.G., E.S.L., R.L.R., M.P.K., S.A.H.), and School of Behavioral Brain Sciences (J.J., R.L.R., M.P.K.), University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Butensky SD, Bethea T, Santos J, Sindhurakar A, Meyers E, Sloan AM, Rennaker RL, Carmel JB. The Knob Supination Task: A Semi-automated Method for Assessing Forelimb Function in Rats. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28994796 PMCID: PMC5752340 DOI: 10.3791/56341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Tasks that accurately measure dexterity in animal models are critical to understand hand function. Current rat behavioral tasks that measure dexterity largely use video analysis of reaching or food manipulation. While these tasks are easy to implement and are robust across disease models, they are subjective and laborious for the experimenter. Automating traditional tasks or creating new automated tasks can make the tasks more efficient, objective, and quantitative. Since rats are less dexterous than primates, central nervous system (CNS) injury produces more subtle deficits in dexterity, however, supination is highly affected in rodents and crucial to hand function in primates. Therefore, we designed a semi-automated task that measures forelimb supination in rats. Rats are trained to reach and grasp a knob-shaped manipulandum and turn the manipulandum in supination to receive a reward. Rats can acquire the skill within 20 ± 5 days. While the early part of training is highly supervised, much of the training is done without direct supervision. The task reliably and reproducibly captures subtle deficits after injury and shows functional recovery that accurately reflects clinical recovery curves. Analysis of data is performed by specialized software through a graphical user interface that is designed to be intuitive. We also give solutions to common problems encountered during training, and show that minor corrections to behavior early in training produce reliable acquisition of supination. Thus, the knob supination task provides efficient and quantitative evaluation of a critical movement for dexterity in rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Eric Meyers
- Texas Biomedical Center, The University of Texas at Dallas; Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas
| | - Andrew M Sloan
- Texas Biomedical Center, The University of Texas at Dallas; Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas
| | - Robert L Rennaker
- Texas Biomedical Center, The University of Texas at Dallas; Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas
| | - Jason B Carmel
- Burke Medical Research Institute; Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College; Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College;
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Butensky SD, Sloan AP, Meyers E, Carmel JB. Dexterity: A MATLAB-based analysis software suite for processing and visualizing data from tasks that measure arm or forelimb function. J Neurosci Methods 2017; 286:114-124. [PMID: 28583476 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hand function is critical for independence, and neurological injury often impairs dexterity. To measure hand function in people or forelimb function in animals, sensors are employed to quantify manipulation. These sensors make assessment easier and more quantitative and allow automation of these tasks. While automated tasks improve objectivity and throughput, they also produce large amounts of data that can be burdensome to analyze. We created software called Dexterity that simplifies data analysis of automated reaching tasks. NEW METHOD Dexterity is MATLAB software that enables quick analysis of data from forelimb tasks. Through a graphical user interface, files are loaded and data are identified and analyzed. These data can be annotated or graphed directly. Analysis is saved, and the graph and corresponding data can be exported. For additional analysis, Dexterity provides access to custom scripts created by other users. RESULTS To determine the utility of Dexterity, we performed a study to evaluate the effects of task difficulty on the degree of impairment after injury. Dexterity analyzed two months of data and allowed new users to annotate the experiment, visualize results, and save and export data easily. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) Previous analysis of tasks was performed with custom data analysis, requiring expertise with analysis software. Dexterity made the tools required to analyze, visualize and annotate data easy to use by investigators without data science experience. CONCLUSIONS Dexterity increases accessibility to automated tasks that measure dexterity by making analysis of large data intuitive, robust, and efficient.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew P Sloan
- Texas Biomedical Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA; Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.
| | - Eric Meyers
- Texas Biomedical Center, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA; Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA.
| | - Jason B Carmel
- Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY, 10605, USA; Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, 10065, USA; Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Leemburg S, Iijima M, Lambercy O, Nallet-Khosrofian L, Gassert R, Luft A. Investigating Motor Skill Learning Processes with a Robotic Manipulandum. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28287570 DOI: 10.3791/54970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Skilled reaching tasks are commonly used in studies of motor skill learning and motor function under healthy and pathological conditions, but can be time-intensive and ambiguous to quantify beyond simple success rates. Here, we describe the training procedure for reach-and-pull tasks with ETH Pattus, a robotic platform for automated forelimb reaching training that records pulling and hand rotation movements in rats. Kinematic quantification of the performed pulling attempts reveals the presence of distinct temporal profiles of movement parameters such as pulling velocity, spatial variability of the pulling trajectory, deviation from midline, as well as pulling success. We show how minor adjustments in the training paradigm result in alterations in these parameters, revealing their relation to task difficulty, general motor function or skilled task execution. Combined with electrophysiological, pharmacological and optogenetic techniques, this paradigm can be used to explore the mechanisms underlying motor learning and memory formation, as well as loss and recovery of function (e.g. after stroke).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan Leemburg
- Division of Vascular Neurology and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich;
| | - Maiko Iijima
- Division of Vascular Neurology and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich
| | - Olivier Lambercy
- Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich
| | | | - Roger Gassert
- Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich
| | - Andreas Luft
- Division of Vascular Neurology and Rehabilitation, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich;
| |
Collapse
|