Cardiovagal baroreflex gain relates to sensory loss after spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to autonomic nervous system damage, resulting in loss of sympathetic control to the vasculature and the heart proportional to injury level. Given maintained cardiac parasympathetic control, we hypothesized that SCI demonstrates a compensatory, higher baroreflex gain compared to able-bodied that relates to injury level (neurological and/or sensory). We compared baroreflex gain (average and across 10 –20, 20–30, and 30–40 mmHg input stimuli) derived from neck chamber technique in SCI (N = 29; neurological level C1-T10, sensory zone of partial preservation C4–S4/5;

Source: Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical - March 22, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Authors: Adina E. Draghici, J. Andrew Taylor Source Type: research