Paralyzed Rats Walk Again | National Geographic

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researchers have found a way to
rehabilitate paralyzed rats with severed
spinal cords to begin walking on their
own again the breakthrough could be a
step toward rehabilitating humans with
similar injuries the study at EPFL in
Switzerland involved injecting neuron
activating chemicals into the paralyzed
rats as well as applying electrical
stimulation researchers say over time
one group of rats while being held
upright the harness attached to a
robotic system were able to take steps
on solid ground with their hind legs and
eventually sprint and climb stairs and
what we observe is that over time the
animal regains the capacity to perform
one two steps and then long run and
eventually of paralyzed rods regain the
capacity to sprint over ground
climb stair even pass obstacle while the
robotic system holds the rats upright
the forward motion is powered by the rat
previous studies have shown rats
regained the ability to walk on a
treadmill but not by themselves
the researchers say the finding a cure
for paralysis and humans due to a
severed spinal cord one step closer thus
far such a result has eluded scientists
the therapy the impact of this type of
intervention in humans is difficult to
predict but this very surprising
plasticity and recovery that we have
observed in the rat open promise’
perspective to improve function in human
with spinal cord injury the study is
published in the June 1st 2012 edition
of science magazine
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