Intrinsically organized resting state networks in the human spinal cord
Kong Y., Eippert F., Beckmann CF., Andersson J., Finsterbusch J., Büchel C., Tracey I., Brooks JCW.
Significance The human brain displays an enormous amount of intrinsic activity in the absence of any task or external stimulation. Here we demonstrate that the human spinal cord, the brain’s principal interface with the body, also shows such resting-state activity. We observed biologically plausible and spatially distinct networks that reflect the functional organisation of the spinal cord: networks in the anterior part likely relating to motor function and distinct networks in the posterior part likely reflecting sensory function. These networks were grouped along the spinal cord, consistent with motor output to, and sensory input from, the body. Together with previous brain imaging studies, our data suggest that resting-state activity constitutes a major functional signature of the entire central nervous system.