Neurological control of head movements: Inverse modeling and electromyographic evidence

Abstract

Experimentally obtained dynamics of time-optimal, horizontal head rotations have previously been simulated by a sixth order, nonlinear model driven by rectangular control signals. EMG recordings have aspects which differ in detail from the theoretical rectangular pulsed control signal. We have obtained control signals for time-optimal (with triphasic EMG activity) as well as suboptimal horizontal head rotations by means of a newly developed inverse modeling procedure. With experimentally measured dynamical data serving as the input, this procedure inverts the model to produce the neurological control signals driving muscles and plant. The relationships between these controller signals and EMG records should contribute to our understanding of the neurological control of movements.