Evaluation Of Simulated Motor Unit Action Potentials

Abstract

METHODS Several characteristic features of individual motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) were extracted from populations of simulated MUAPs and compared to similar features extracted from populations of real MUAPs. MUAPs simulated as if detected by both concentric and monopolar needle electrodes were studied. The comparison was an attempt to evaluate the underlying model used for the simulation of the MUAPs and to verify specific values used for many of the parameters of the model. The comparative values for features extracted from real MUAPs were obtained from the literature [1,2]. Overall, the population of simulated MUAPs tended to be too complex and to have durations which were too short. Nonetheless, the results in a quantitative way validate the simulation model and suggest adjustment to several of the model parameter values.