Motor control of electromyographical signals with the biofeedback training.

Abstract

Biofeedback method has been applied to the motor control training, of which aim is to keep a fixed constant surface EMG's signal during the flexor muscle contraction of the upper arm. The biofeedback method with the motor control has objected to make motor response with high sensibility and stability, and to give subjects the biofeedback training (BFT) in order to improve the covert sensory function. In the experiment, measuring items were as follows : integrated error values between the motor command and the controlled variable of suriace EMG (motor performance), the flexor muscle strength of the upper arm during an isometric contraction in the tracking (energy cost), and the spectrum analysis of error values (transfer function). The error spectrum should have been estimated to analyze the gain and the phase in the transfer function of the motor control. Adding the biofeedback training to the myoreflex control system, following results were obtained : 1) the gain in the motor control system increased efficiently, but the phase had no changes in the tracking after BFT. 2) the flexor muscle strength decreased with the low-cost energy of contraction after BFT. 3) motor performance had been improved with BFT significantly. 4) the covert sensory function might be elevated up to the overt sensory situation in the myoreflex control system.