Aiko Thompson

Aiko Thompson, Ph.D. is a neuroscientist and Associate Professor in the College of Health Professions at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, SC. She leads an active research laboratory focused on neurophysiology and rehabilitation science, with particular emphasis on spinal reflex modulation and operant conditioning approaches for improving motor function after central nervous system damage.

Dr. Thompson earned her Ph.D. with Dr. Richard Stein at the University of Alberta, Canada, where she conducted non-invasive human neurophysiology research related to functional electrical stimulation (FES) foot drop simulator and spinal reflex modulation during walking. She then completed postdoctoral training with Dr. Jonathan Wolpaw at the Wadsworth Center in Albany, NY, where she developed the human H-reflex operant conditioning protocol.

Dr. Thompson's research focuses on understanding CNS plasticity in human sensorimotor control and how to guide this plasticity to restore useful function after CNS damage. Her current work investigates functional roles of spinal reflexes and evaluates CNS plasticity associated with operant conditioning of EMG evoked responses (such as spinal reflexes and motor evoked potentials to transcranial magnetic stimulation) in people with spinal cord injury and other neuromuscular disorders. Her laboratory has pioneered approaches to condition spinal reflexes to improve motor function recovery after neurological damage.

Analysis of Dr. Thompson's recent publications reveals a strong focus on applying operant conditioning techniques to modify spinal and corticospinal pathways for rehabilitation purposes. Her work spans multiple neurological conditions including spinal cord injury, stroke, and multiple sclerosis, with particular attention to how reflex conditioning can improve specific motor functions like walking and upper limb control. The research increasingly incorporates advanced methodologies including transcranial magnetic stimulation, EMG monitoring, and closed-loop therapeutic systems.

Dr. Thompson has secured significant research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DoD), South Carolina funding sources, and private endorsements to support her ongoing investigations. Her work has resulted in numerous clinical trials exploring reflex conditioning approaches for various neurological conditions.

Since establishing her laboratory in 2007, Dr. Thompson has developed a robust research program with multiple ongoing clinical trials. Her work bridges basic neuroscience with clinical rehabilitation, creating novel therapeutic approaches that target specific neural pathways to improve functional outcomes for individuals with neurological damage. Her research team collaborates with clinicians and engineers to translate laboratory findings into practical clinical applications for improving movement function after CNS damage.