Research Interests

The research being undertaken in my laboratory is investigating the neural control of lumbosacral spinal reflexes involved in the control of bladder, sphincter and lower limb function. Two general areas of interest serve as the focus of the research. Firstly, we are working to identify the brainstem and spinal neural circuitry underlying the coordination of bladder parasympathetic activation and striated sphincter relaxation during micturition). Disruption of this coordination (dyssynergia) is commonly seen in neurological conditions where descending pathways from the brain to the sacral spinal cord are disrupted. Secondly, we are examining the role of bladder and perineal cutaneous afferents on limb reflexes and motor behaviors (e.g. locomotion, postural changes related to defecation and micturition. A variety of electrophysiological approaches ranging from peripheral whole nerve recordings to intracellular recordings from individual spinal cord neurons are used. In addition, neuroanatomical tracing and morphology methodologies are applied to these systems.

See Also:

Spinal Cord Research Centre Profile

COS Expertise Record for Dr. Shefchyk

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