Spinal cord stimulation as a tool for physiological research.

The use of spinal cord stimulation for alleviation of disabilities due to motor neuron lesions has provided the opportunity to explore a new approach to measurement of spinal cord physiology. Externalized leads of epidural electrodes provide the possibility of recording evoked spinal cord activity, while both externalized or implanted leads can be used to study cortical evoked responses and twitches induced by spinal cord stimulation. The use of such electrophysiological techniques can be expected to expand greatly the applicability of the technique for alleviating motor disabilities, through a better definition of the degree, nature and extent of the lesion.