Monica A. Perez, PT, PhD 
Scientific Chair of the Arms + Hands Lab at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab;
Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University;
Research Scientist, Edward Jr. Hines VA Hospital

Abstract
Combinatorial Approaches for SCI: How Do We Achieve Breakthrough Recovery?

Dr. Perez will review neurostimulation techniques and their effects on spinal pathways in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). She will discuss how Hebbian stimulation, based on the principles of spike-timing-dependent plasticity (“neurons that fire together, wire together”), enhances functional recovery and improves quality of life in individuals with SCI. Findings from proof-of-concept studies to randomized clinical trials demonstrate that targeting spinal pathways with Hebbian stimulation and exercise is more effective than single-site stimulation alone. Additionally, combining Hebbian stimulation with 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, a potassium blocker) and exercise further accelerates locomotor recovery by increasing excitability in motor pathways and spinal circuits. The talk will highlight the need for combinatorial approaches and protocol optimization to maximize rehabilitation outcomes
 

Bio
Dr. Perez is the Scientific Chair of the Arms + Hands Lab at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, a Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Northwestern University, and a Research Scientist at the Edward Jr. Hines VA Hospital. She has studied neural mechanisms contributing to the control of voluntary movement in healthy humans and in people with spinal cord injury for over 15 years. Her research aims to understand how the brain and spinal cord contribute to the control of movement with the ultimate goal of using this mechanistic information to develop more effective rehabilitation therapies for people with spinal cord injury. This theme is mainly investigated from a neurophysiological point of view, using a combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation, magnetic resonance imaging, electrical stimulation, and behavioral techniques.