The Modulatory Effect of Female Sex Hormones on Spinal Neuroplasticity

Brief Summary

The goal of this project is to test our central hypothesis that the spinal cord neuroplasticity in females will be modulated by the level of estradiol concentration. under aim 1 we will determine the influence of estradiol fluctuations on spinal circuit excitability post afferent (sensory) mediated subthreshold motor priming in young healthy females and males. We will use an established repetitive peripheral nerve electrical stimulation with a stimulation intensity below the motor threshold to prime the spinal motor circuits. under aim 2 we seek to characterize the input output property of spinal circuit excitability after descending drive (motor) mediated priming in young healthy male participants. in aim 3 we will examine the influence of estradiol fluctuations on descending drive mediated motor priming in young healthy females.