Walk a Neural Mile in Their Shoes

Hubbard, Elizabeth

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/89902 Copy

Description

Title

Walk a Neural Mile in Their Shoes

Author(s)

Hubbard, Elizabeth

Contributor(s)

• Motl, Robert
• Sutton, Bradley
• Holtrop, Joseph

Issue Date

2016-04

Keyword(s)

Kinesiology

Abstract

The cerebrospinal tract (CST, blue and green) is a neural walking track that sends and receives information regarding movement, like walking, between the two motor cortices (yellow) of the brain to the brainstem (red). The brainstem then relays that information to the body so that movement can occur. When there are disruptions in the CST via loss of axons or damage to the neuron, the signals get blurred, and walking dysfunction occurs. Walking dysfunction is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and seemingly is a manifestation of damage to the CST. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) identifies these disruptions through measuring restrictions to the diffusion of water within the CST. My research identifies subtle differences in the DTI indices associated with walking dysfunction, and these could be assessed in future trials of motor rehabilitation for people with MS. This image of a research participant's CST represents the interdisciplinary work between the Beckman Institute and the Kinesiology department. These two divisions of the university (i.e. the left and right motor cortices) work separately, but are utilized in a single research line (i.e. the CST) that converges at a deeper level through my research(i.e. the brainstem) to relay information to the scientific community and help those with disabling diseases, like MS.

Type of Resource

• text
• image

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89902

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 Elizabeth Hubbard

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