PARALYSED rats have walked again in a breakthrough dubbed by
scientists “the World Cup of neuro-rehabilitation”, it emerged
yesterday. A team of scientists said they had “reawakened” a
severed spine by stimulating spinal nerves using electrical
currents from implanted electrodes, drug injections and exercise
training. It is the first study demonstrating that a severely
damaged spinal cord can adapt and recover sufficiently to allow
the brain to regain limb control. The rats in the experiment
were fitted with special robotic harnesses so only their hind
legs reached the ground. They were then placed on a treadmill
which produced only reflex stepping, and on ground where they
had to choose to make their legs move if they wanted to reach a
piece of chocolate as a reward. They took their first voluntary
steps after about two to three weeks of training, the
researchers said but they still needed the harness to keep their
balance.