Spinal cord articles from across Nature Portfolio

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves and supporting tissue that extends from the brain. It has an essential role in conducting motor and sensory information from and to the brain, as well as in regulating certain reflexes.

Latest Research and Reviews

Research
31 May 2023 | Open Access

Feasibility of spinal cord imaging at 7 T using rosette trajectory with magnetization transfer preparation and compressed sensing
- Sultan Z. Mahmud
- , Thomas S. Denney
- & Adil Bashir
Scientific Reports 13, 8777
Research
24 May 2023 | Open Access

Walking naturally after spinal cord injury using a brain–spine interface

A reliable digital bridge restored communication between the brain and spinal cord and enabled natural walking in a participant with spinal cord injury.
- Henri Lorach
- , Andrea Galvez
- & Grégoire Courtine
Nature 618, 126-133
Research
22 May 2023 | Open Access

Upregulation of breathing rate during running exercise by central locomotor circuits in mice

The neuronal basis for respiratory augmentation during running is poorly understood. Here, the authors identify two neuronal pathways by which the central locomotor network can upregulate respiratory rate in running mice.
- Coralie Hérent
- , Séverine Diem
- & Julien Bouvier
Nature Communications 14, 2939
Research | 04 May 2023

Restless leg syndrome in spinal cord injury: case report
- Shane McNamara
- , Beverly Hon
- & Steven Kirshblum
Spinal Cord Series and Cases 9, 19
Research
24 April 2023 | Open Access

Profiling spatiotemporal gene expression of the developing human spinal cord and implications for ependymoma origin

The authors created a comprehensive developmental cell atlas for spatiotemporal gene expression of the human spinal cord, revealed species-specific regulation during development and used the atlas to infer novel markers for pediatric ependymomas.
- Xiaofei Li
- , Zaneta Andrusivova
- & Erik Sundström
Nature Neuroscience 26, 891-901
Research | 24 April 2023

Single-cell transcriptomic landscape of the developing human spinal cord

Andersen, Thom and colleagues reveal the single-cell-resolution transcriptome of the midgestation human spinal cord and discover remarkable heterogeneity across and within cell types.
- Jimena Andersen
- , Nicholas Thom
- & Sergiu P. Pașca
Nature Neuroscience 26, 902-914

All Research & Reviews

News and Comment

News & Views | 07 March 2023

Facilitating limb movement after stroke

Epidural spinal cord stimulation improved upper limb function in two participants after stroke, revealing a potentially exciting new tool for stroke recovery.
- David J. Reinkensmeyer
- , Andria J. Farrens
- & Derek G. Kamper
Nature Medicine 29, 535-536
Correspondence | 27 May 2021

Attenuation of autonomic dysreflexia during functional electrical stimulation cycling by neuromuscular electrical stimulation training: case reports
- Gino Panza
- & Jill Wecht
Spinal Cord Series and Cases 7, 44
Research Highlights | 14 August 2019

Rules of invasion

In zebrafish, pioneer axons of the dorsal root ganglia require the release of synaptic-like vesicles to enter the spinal cord, suggesting that synaptic vesicles have a role in circuit formation ahead of synaptogenesis.
- Katharine H. Wrighton
Nature Reviews Neuroscience 20, 574-575
Research Highlights | 29 March 2019

Filtering out the noise in axon guidance

An intracellular molecule acts in a context-dependent manner to suppress responses to irrelevant guidance cues during axon development.
- Katherine Whalley
Nature Reviews Neuroscience 20, 250-251
Research Highlights | 29 October 2018

Keep breathing

A population of spinal excitatory interneurons can be targeted for the maintenance of respiratory function after spinal cord injury in mice.
- Katherine Whalley
Nature Reviews Neuroscience 19, 711
Research Highlights | 18 October 2018

Spinal stimulation and physical therapy helps paraplegic patients to walk again
- Charlotte Ridler
Nature Reviews Neurology 14, 631