Cortical electrical stimulation promotes neuronal plasticity in the peri-ischemic cortex and contralesional anterior horn of cervical spinal cord in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia

► Cortical electrical stimulation can promote spinal cord plasticity. ► Cortical electrical stimulation can reduce astrogliosis. ► Cortical electrical stimulation is still an appealing method for rehabilitation. ► Sufficient viability of descending pathways is important for motor recovery.