Thinking Spinal Cords

The spinal cord uses network mechanisms similar to those used in the brain, scientists found based on a new study on turtle spinal cords.

Spinal neurons, during network activity underlying movements, show the similar irregular firing patterns as seen in the cerebral cortex--a brain structure found in vertebrates.

"Our findings contradict conventional wisdom about spinal cord functions," said Rune W. Berg from the University of Copenhagen.

Until now, the general belief was that the spinal networks functioned mechanically and completely without random impulses. The new discovery enables researchers to use the theory on cortical networks to explore how spinal cords generate movements.

How humans are able to move at all remains a puzzle. Our muscles are controlled by thousands of nerve cells in the spinal cord. This entire, complex system must work as a whole in order to successfully create a single motion. The new research shows that even if we repeat a certain motion with high accuracy, the involved nerve cells never repeat their activity patterns. This particular observation reflects the organization of the nerve cells of the cerebral cortex.

This research appears in the Jan. 19 issue of the journal Science.

---LiveScience Staff

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