Movement Precuing Altered Reaction Time of Elbow Flexion and Forearm Supination

Abstract

Electromyographic reaction time (EMG-RT) of the biceps brachii muscle for elbow flexion and forearm supination was investigated in 10 healthy subjects under two conditions of movement precuing and nonprecuing with a constant foreperiod. Analysis showed that the precuing significantly reduced EMG-RT of both movements, especially the supination, and confirmed previous finding that the supination had an advantage in initiation over the flexion when the movement pattern was prepared in advance. When not prepared, on the contrary, EMG-RT of supination significantly prolonged as compared with flexion.