Spinal plasticity

Spinal plasticity refers to the adaptive changes in neural circuits within the spinal cord, encompassing both synaptic and non-synaptic modifications that allow the spinal cord to reorganize functionally and structurally in response to sensory input, injury, or activity. These changes can be beneficial, supporting recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury, or maladaptive, contributing to chronic pain states. The underlying cellular mechanisms are analogous to those observed in brain neuroplasticity and include synaptic strengthening or weakening, axonal sprouting, and molecular signaling changes. Spinal plasticity is a foundational principle guiding strategies for neurorehabilitation but does not correspond to a single molecular entity amenable to “targeted” pharmacological intervention.

Other names

spinal cord plasticityspinal neuroplasticityspinal synaptic plasticityspinal learning