Activation of the primary motor cortex using fully-implanted electrical sciatic nerve stimulation

Functional degradation of the motor cortex usually results from brain injury, stroke, limb amputation, aging or other diseases. Currently, there are no ideal means of treatment, other than medication and sports rehabilitation. The present study investigated whether electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve can activate the motor-related area of the brain. The study is based on a self-developed fully implantable nerve electrical stimulator and a self-developed multi-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) electrode array. The sciatic nerves of Sprague-Dawley rats (sorted into old and young groups) were stimulated by the electrical stimulator under anesthesia, and the EEG signal was recorded simultaneously. The relationship between sciatic nerve stimulation and brain activity was analyzed. The results showed that when the sciatic nerve was stimulated by the implanted electrical stimulator, motor-related channels were activated, causing contraction of the left leg. It was found that at the frequency band of 8–16 Hz, the EEG signal in the right motor area was higher than at other frequency bands. This phenomenon was identical in both young and old rats. The results indicated that electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve can activate the motor region of the rat brain, and provided evidence that stimulation of the sciatic nerve could be a method of preventing motor cortex degeneration.