Skip to main content

REVIEW article

Front. Physiol.
Sec. Integrative Physiology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1389436
This article is part of the Research Topic Exoskeleton Gait Training View all articles

Spinal maps of motoneuron activity during human locomotion: neuromechanical considerations

Provisionally accepted
Priscilla Avaltroni Priscilla Avaltroni 1Germana Cappellini Germana Cappellini 1,2Francesca Sylos Labini Francesca Sylos Labini 1,2Yury Ivanenko Yury Ivanenko 3*Francesco Lacquaniti Francesco Lacquaniti 1,2
  • 1 Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS), Rome, Lazio, Italy
  • 2 University of Rome Tor Vergata, Roma, Lazio, Italy
  • 3 Neuromotor Physiology, Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS), Rome, Italy

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The spatial segmental location of motoneurons in the human spinal cord is influenced by both evolutionary and functional principles tending to optimize motor control, reflex integration, and adaptation to the demands of movement. Bearing in mind the biomechanics of limb muscles, it is logical to examine how motoneuron activity clusters functionally during typical daily activities like walking. This article provides a summary of advancements in the study of spinal maps of motoneuron activation during human locomotion by reviewing data gathered over ~20 years. The effects of child development, aging, and neurological disorders show the salient characteristics of spinal segmental activity during different human locomotor tasks and conditions. By exploiting the neuromechanics of the spinal motor circuits, that is, the link between motoneuron activity and gait mechanics, neuroprosthetics and other focused treatments may better help individuals with locomotor impairments.

    Keywords: Locomotion, Spinal Cord, Motor pools, Muscle innervation, spinal cord imagery, Neurorehabilitation

    Received: 21 Feb 2024; Accepted: 09 May 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Avaltroni, Cappellini, Sylos Labini, Ivanenko and Lacquaniti. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Yury Ivanenko, Neuromotor Physiology, Santa Lucia Foundation (IRCCS), Rome, 00179, Italy

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.