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Mini-review article: the role of spinal reciprocal inhibition and intracortical inhibition in functional recovery from stroke

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A Correction to this article was published on 28 July 2020

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Abstract

Spinal reciprocal inhibition (RI) and intracortical inhibition are important physiological mechanisms for voluntary movement control and functional recovery of voluntary movement in patients with stroke. Spasticity, which impairs motor performance, is one of the major manifestations of stroke. RI may be involved in reducing spasticity. This might allow finger extension, and, therefore, better hand function by reducing co-contraction with finger extensors. One potential mechanism of functional reorganization of the motor cortex is that pre-existing masking pathways are unmasked by decreased intracortical inhibition. The inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA plays an important role in this process. Changes in RI might be mediated through unmasking of cortical pathways through decreased inhibition, with the neurotransmitter GABA. These changes can be assessed using short-latency intracortical inhibition (SICI) and RI. Functional recovery in the chronic phase of stroke induced by rehabilitation was accompanied by SICI and spinal RI changes. Cortical reorganization and spinal plasticity might play important roles in functional recovery induced by rehabilitation, even in patients with chronic severe hemiparesis. This review aims to provide a focused overview of neuroplasticity of spinal RI and intracortical inhibition associated with functional motor recovery from stroke.

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Change history

  • 28 July 2020

    In the original publication of the article, it was published under the title ‘Mini-review article: the role of spinal reciprocal inhibition and intracortical inhibition in functional recovery from stroke’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Toshiyuki Fujiwara

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Health Science, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan

    Toshiyuki Fujiwara

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  1. Toshiyuki Fujiwara
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Correspondence to Toshiyuki Fujiwara.

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Communicated by Sven Bestmann.

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Fujiwara, T. Mini-review article: the role of spinal reciprocal inhibition and intracortical inhibition in functional recovery from stroke. Exp Brain Res 238, 1701–1705 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-020-05849-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-020-05849-0

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