William McKay

Papers

Total Citations

137

H-Index

About

Dr. William McKay is a leading neuroscientist whose research focuses on spinal cord injury recovery, specifically the mechanisms of spinal rhythm generation and locomotor control. His most-cited work, “Spinal Rhythm Generation by Step-Induced Feedback and Transcutaneous Posterior Root Stimulation in Complete Spinal Cord–Injured Individuals” (2015, 137 citations), fundamentally advanced our understanding of how the human lumbosacral spinal circuitry can produce rhythmic motor output after a complete spinal cord injury. This landmark study demonstrated that phasic step-related sensory feedback, combined with tonic transcutaneous stimulation of posterior roots, can effectively recruit spinal rhythm-generating networks—even in the absence of supraspinal input. Dr. McKay’s contributions have opened new avenues for developing non-invasive neuromodulation strategies to restore walking function in paralyzed individuals. His work bridges basic neurophysiology with translational rehabilitation, offering hope for improved motor recovery. With a citation impact that continues to grow, Dr. McKay is recognized as a pivotal figure in spinal cord injury research, inspiring both clinicians and scientists to explore the latent potential of spinal circuits.