Combinatory electrical and pharmacological neuroprosthetic interfaces to regain motor function after spinal cord injury.

Severe lesions of the rodent or human spinal cord lead to permanent paralysis of the legs. Here, we review novel evidences suggesting that interventions combining pharmacological and electrical stimulations of the spinal cord have a high potential to promote the recovery of locomotion following severe spinal cord injuries in humans. These strategies are based on the existence of webs of circuits and receptors embedded in the spinal motor infrastructure that each modulate specific aspects of locomotor movements.