Professor Jim Elliott
Professor Ashleigh Craig
Nervous system control to improve outcomes The Spinal Cord Injury Research Grants program is also investing $2.5 million in a world-first trial, led by Professors Ashley Craig and James Middleton from the John Walsh Centre and researchers from the University of Sydney, Macquarie University, UNSW and the University of British Columbia. Professor Craig said spinal cord injuries can lead to significant problems such as highly unstable blood pressure and dysfunctional nervous system control. These can in turn cause sleep disorders, confusion and depression, and in some cases, sudden death.
High tech approach may hold key to progress for those with specific injury Prof Craig will join Profs Jim Elliott and James Middleton on a project to develop virtual reality technology to assist those with incomplete spinal cord injuries to improve their sense of touch and feeling. The project follows a recent breakthrough which found 50 per cent of people with complete spinal cord injuries still had preserved nerve fibres. This meant that even though they couldn’t feel when someone touched their toe, their brain
“This research will focus on an approach to restore nervous system function, by encouraging those with spinal cord injuries to self-regulate their autonomic nervous system activity,” he said. “Your nervous system is absolutely crucial for a healthy life, influencing almost every body and brain function, including blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and sleep. “The trial will focus on teaching those with spinal cord injuries to control their brain and heart function by observing feedback on a computer screen. “We are confident this innovative therapy will be successful, increasing life expectancy and quality of life, including improved vitality, sleep and mental health,”
was still receiving the message. Prof Elliott said this project brings together innovation in scientific
understanding of neurological changes with spinal cord injuries, and cutting-edge clinical applications of virtual reality.
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