Abstract: Spinal cord plasticity includes spontaneous neuronal plasticity and task-dependent plasticity which was respectively driven by spinal cord injury and special treatment.Spontaneous plasticity occurred at neuronal and synaptic sites,displaying various forms of axonal sprouting,unmasking of relatively ineffective functional connections and modification of synaptic efficacy.Task-dependent plasticity demonstrated reactivation of central generator pattern and functional reorganization of extensive spinal circuits.Exploration,induction and guidance of spinal cord plasticity will help determine the most optimal treatments and expand therapy methods to further promote function recovery of patients with spinal cord injury.

Key words: spinal cord injury, spinal cord plasticity, central pattern generator, spinal circuits, review