About this Research Topic
The reticulospinal tract (RST) is a major descending pathway which is mostly known to be involved in the control of posture and locomotion in human. However, this vision that RST is exclusively involved in the control of posture and locomotion would largely neglect the role of RST on the balancing effect it has on the spinal motoneurons through its inhibitory and excitatory outputs. In fact, RST has two major tracts (a dorsal and a medial tract), which post inhibitory and excitatory effect on spinal reflexes. This pathway shows substantial neuroplastic changes after insults to the central nervous system (such as stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson). In recent years, the role of RST in hyperreflexia and spasticity has been subject to great attention. Our knowledge about the role of RST in spinal reflexes, has therefore been significantly revisited. In this Research Topic we aim to gather manuscripts which show new horizons and findings on the role of RST in CNS pathologies.
The role of the reticulospinal tract (RST) in spasticity and other upper motor neuron lesions is still not very well understood. There has been findings from animal studies which contradict those from human subjects. Recent studies have shown that the influence of RST on spinal neurons might be different in human and animals. The current findings, therefore, have lead to new theories about the mechanism of action of RST. Our goal is to gather recent studies on RST to provide the reader of the journal an opportunity to gain a wide understanding about current direction of research and findings on this topic.
We would like our contributors address the following topics:
- The role of Reticulospinal Tract (RST) in the control of movement in human.
- The role of RST in human spasticity and neuroplastic changes subsequent to stroke.
- The role of RST in human rigidity and neuroplastic changes subsequent to Parkinson disease.
- The effect and interaction of RST on spinal interneurons.
- Parallel studies on animal models.
We welcome basic research, review articles and opinion/letters to the editors.
The role of the reticulospinal tract (RST) in spasticity and other upper motor neuron lesions is still not very well understood. There has been findings from animal studies which contradict those from human subjects. Recent studies have shown that the influence of RST on spinal neurons might be different in human and animals. The current findings, therefore, have lead to new theories about the mechanism of action of RST. Our goal is to gather recent studies on RST to provide the reader of the journal an opportunity to gain a wide understanding about current direction of research and findings on this topic.
We would like our contributors address the following topics:
- The role of Reticulospinal Tract (RST) in the control of movement in human.
- The role of RST in human spasticity and neuroplastic changes subsequent to stroke.
- The role of RST in human rigidity and neuroplastic changes subsequent to Parkinson disease.
- The effect and interaction of RST on spinal interneurons.
- Parallel studies on animal models.
We welcome basic research, review articles and opinion/letters to the editors.
Keywords: Reticulospinal tract, Upper motoneuron lesions, Spasticity, Rigidity, Stroke, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
