Australian researchers have found that half of all patients suffering from major spinal cord injuries still have surviving sensory nerve connections.

Key points: Brain activity was detected in 48 per cent of spinal cord injury patients

Brain activity was detected in 48 per cent of spinal cord injury patients Researchers say the findings open the door for new targeted treatments

Researchers say the findings open the door for new targeted treatments Patient James Stanley says it offers him "hope" for the future

Dr Sylvia Gustin from Neuroscience Research Australia used cutting edge magnetic resonance imaging known as fMRI scans to record how 23 people living with spinal injuries responded to touch.

The scientists were surprised that many people who couldn't feel the stimulation were still registering the touch in their brains.

"We found using functional MRI, activity in the brain was detected in 48 per cent of people with clinically complete spinal cord injury," she said.

"This means despite previously believing the communication to the brain had been severed in the injury, the messages are still being received by the brain.

"So this is a very exciting breakthrough study."

'There's a possibility of change for me'

Fifty per cent of people with a major spinal injury still have surviving sensory nerve connections. ( Supplied: Neuroscience Research Australia )

Seven years ago, 26-year-old James Stanley had a freak surfing accident.

"I pushed up on the board, which caused a hyper-extension in my spine," he said.

"Over a period of about one to two hours, the swelling was quite severe and caused paraplegia.

"It's very rare."

It left him completely paralysed from the bellybutton down.

Mr Stanley took part in the groundbreaking Australian study.

"In this study, I had to be put in an MRI scan. Sylvia brushed a plastic fork along my big toe to see whether, even though I can't feel it, the brain registered that touch," he said.

Mr Stanley said he was excited to find out his results.

"They found that when they brushed the fork, it actually registered a connection, it registered the touch," he said.

"It was awesome and amazing to hear because seven years ago, I was told once you're a complete paraplegic, there are no avenues we can take to develop your strength or feeling coming back in your legs.

"Hearing that was awesome because with further developed treatment and rehab, there's a possibility of change for me."

James suffered a complete spinal injury in 2011 in a freak surfing accident. ( ABC News: John Gunn )

Discovery paves way for new spinal treatments

Dr Gustin said the discovery offers cautious new hope to patients who may have been told they will never walk again.

"This basic research breakthrough is very important to develop novel therapies which are targeting the sensory network connections which we found have actually survived," she said.

The next step is to develop treatments to enhance the surviving sensory nerve connections, which could be brain computer interface techniques or brain stimulation at the level of the spinal cord.

Researchers would also like to see all new spinal cord injury patients offered similar MRI scans of the brain, to see what areas remain active.

The research is a collaboration between Neuroscience Research Australia, the Pain Management Research Institute, and the University of Sydney and was published in the journal Human Brain Mapping.