Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2026, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (3): 957-971.doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-24-00434

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Multi-target neural circuit reconstruction and enhancement in spinal cord injury

Lingyun Cao1, 2, 3, #, Siyun Chen1, 4, #, Shuping Wang1, 2, 3, Ya Zheng5, *, Dongsheng Xu1, 2, 3, 6, *   

  1. 1 School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; 2 Engineering Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Intelligent Rehabilitation, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China; 3 Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai, China; 4 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China; 5 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; 6 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
  • Online:2026-03-15 Published:2025-07-02
  • Contact: Ya Zheng, MD, alice_612_zheng@alumni.tongji.edu.cn; Dongsheng Xu, PhD, dxu0927@shutcm.edu.cn.
  • Supported by:
    This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China, No. 2023YFC3603705 (to DX); the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82302866 (to YZ).

PDF

3

Abstract: After spinal cord injury, impairment of the sensorimotor circuit can lead to dysfunction in the motor, sensory, proprioceptive, and autonomic nervous systems. Functional recovery is often hindered by constraints on the timing of interventions, combined with the limitations of current methods. To address these challenges, various techniques have been developed to aid in the repair and reconstruction of neural circuits at different stages of injury. Notably, neuromodulation has garnered considerable attention for its potential to enhance nerve regeneration, provide neuroprotection, restore neurons, and regulate the neural reorganization of circuits within the cerebral cortex and corticospinal tract. To improve the effectiveness of these interventions, the implementation of multitarget early interventional neuromodulation strategies, such as electrical and magnetic stimulation, is recommended to enhance functional recovery across different phases of nerve injury. This review concisely outlines the challenges encountered following spinal cord injury, synthesizes existing neurostimulation techniques while emphasizing neuroprotection, repair, and regeneration of impaired connections, and advocates for multi-targeted, task-oriented, and timely interventions.

Key words: multi-targets, nerve root magnetic stimulation, neural circuit, neuromodulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, reconstruction, spinal cord injury, task-oriented training, timing, transcranial magnetic stimulation