Papers
4
Total Citations
77
H-Index
3
About
Morad Zaaya is a rising leader in neurorehabilitation, whose research focuses on restoring motor function after spinal cord injury (SCI) through innovative neuromodulation strategies. His work uniquely integrates brain and spinal cord paired stimulation with locomotor training, targeting both descending and spinal circuits to maximize neurorecovery. In a landmark randomized clinical trial (2022, 28 citations), Zaaya demonstrated that combined brain-spinal stimulation during stepping significantly enhances motoneuron output to multiple leg muscles, establishing a new framework for clinically relevant rehabilitation. A companion study (2022, 26 citations) further revealed that this paired stimulation reshapes polysynaptic flexion reflex circuits, indicating plasticity in spinal networks. His earlier work (2021, 20 citations) showed that transspinal stimulation combined with step training can alter spinal network function even in complete SCI. Most recently, a pilot randomized sham-controlled trial (2025) characterized how transspinal stimulation preceding training reorganizes neuronal excitability and inhibitory network function. Collectively, Zaaya’s research provides compelling evidence that precisely timed, multi-site neuromodulation can drive meaningful neuroplasticity, offering new hope for functional recovery in individuals with severe SCI.
Research Focus
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