Abstract
Decomposition of intramuscular electromyogram (iEMG) into its constituent motor unit spike trains is a useful tool for understanding the neurophysiological control of muscle force. Some experimental results have shown that the performance in a force-matching motor task is influenced by the gain of the visual feedback provided to the subject. In this project, the propose was to decompose iEMG signals from the Soleus muscle recorded in a force-matching task (plantarflexion contractions with different intensities). The motor unit spike trains were analyzed in six different conditions of visual feedback. From the results found, the visual feedback gain seems not to influence the discharge properties of MUs recruited in a force-matching task. Force intensity only influenced the number of recruited MUs and the MU FR, which is expected from the recruitment and rate coding mechanisms of force control.
Highlights
Decomposition of intramuscular electromyogram is of paramount importance when one is interested in evaluating the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying force control[1]
Plantarflexion contractions were performed at 10% and 25% of the maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs)
Analysis of interspike-interval (ISI) variability was performed for the motor unit spike trains recorded in six different conditions of visual feedback: high visual gain (HVG), medium visual gain (MVG), low visual gain (LVG), high initial gain (HIG), medium initial gain (MIG), and low initial gain (LIG)
Summary
Decomposition of intramuscular electromyogram (iEMG) is of paramount importance when one is interested in evaluating the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying force control[1]. Previous studies have shown that the gain of visual feedback influences force variability[2]. There is no information on whether visual feedback gain exerts any influence on the discharge properties of motor units (MUs) recruited in a force-matching motor task.
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