Study: Spinal cord contributes to sophisticated hand function
It is well known that neural circuits in the spinal cord control seemingly simple things like the pain reflex in humans, and some motor control functions in animals. Now, a new study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience has shown that the spinal cord is also able to process and control more complex functions, like the positioning of your hand in external space.
“Our research has shown that a least one important function is being done at the level of the spinal cord and it opens up a whole new area of investigation to say: what else is done at the spinal level and what else have we potentially missed in this domain?” said co-lead author Dr. Andrew Pruszynski, a researcher at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada.