Neurostimulation for Respiratory Function After Spinal Cord Injury

The purpose of this research study is to learn more about the connections between the brain, nerves, and diaphragm after experiencing a cervical spinal cord injury (SCI).The main question it aims to answer is:

Changes in respiratory function and recovery using stimulation and respiratory exercise training in spinal cord-injured individuals.

Participants will complete a maximum of 55 study visits. They will be asked to complete about 40 treatment sessions which include multiple stimulation sessions over the scalp and neck, followed by about 60 minutes of respiratory training. Assessment sessions will be completed prior at baseline, after 20 sessions and after 40 sessions of study treatment.

The purpose of this study is to test a strategy to potentiate functional recovery of respiratory function in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Respiratory function is often impaired in individuals with high cervical spinal cord injury (SCI, C1-C5) leading to reduced quality of life and mortality. Currently, research has shown Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) targeting cortico-motoneuronal connections effectively promote recovery in upper and lower limbs, including functions such as grasping and locomotion. The overall goal of our proposal is to develop a non-invasive protocol using

STDP that can be used to strengthen synaptic plasticity and voluntary motor output in the diaphragm muscle in humans with high cervical SCI. To assess the effect of STDP on respiratory function in humans with high cervical SCI, we propose a pilot study of efficacy trial with the specific aim below:

The overall objective of this project is to investigate the efficacy of spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) on respiratory function in humans with high cervical SCI.

Specific Aim: Examine the effect of STDP in respiratory function in humans with chronic high cervical SCI.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male and females between ages 18-85 years
2. SCI at least 6 months post-injury
3. Spinal Cord injury at C1-C5
4. Demonstrate respiratory deficit following spinal cord injury as following: (1) Individuals using mechanical ventilation, and (2) individuals with pulmonary function testing (PFT) deficits corresponding to having a vital capacity (VC) \< 80% (predicted)
5. Must have a family member or caregiver who is trained and willing to operate the mechanical ventilator during study visits.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any illness or condition that based on the research team's assessment, will compromise with the participant's ability to comply with the protocol, patient safety, or the validity of the data collected during this study.
2. Any debilitating disease prior to the SCI that caused exercise intolerance.
3. Individuals entirely dependent on the support of a diaphragmatic pacer (24 hours per day).
4. Premorbid, ongoing major depression or psychosis, altered cognitive status.
5. History of head injury or stroke
6. Vascular, traumatic, tumoral, infectious, or metabolic lesion of the brain, even without a history of seizure, and without anticonvulsant medication
7. History of seizures or epilepsy
8. Receiving drugs acting primarily on the central nervous system, which lower the seizure threshold
9. Pregnant females
10. If a woman of childbearing age is unsure of the pregnancy, and does not want to take the pregnancy test
11. Ongoing cord compression or a syrinx in the spinal cord or who suffer from a spinal cord disease such as spinal stenosis, spina bifida, MS, or herniated disk
12. Metal plate in skull
13. Individuals with scalp shrapnel, cochlear implants, or aneurysm clips
14. Individuals taking Bupropion, Dolutegravir, Lacosamide, Trilaciclib, or PR Interval prolonging drugs