| 1. |
- Torell, Frida, et al.
(författare)
-
Assistive loading promotes goal-directed tuning of stretch reflex gains
- 2023
-
Ingår i: eNeuro. - Washington : Society for Neuroscience. - 2373-2822. ; 10:2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Voluntary movements are prepared before they are executed. Preparatory activity has been observed across the CNS and recently documented in first-order neurons of the human PNS (i.e., in muscle spindles). Changes seen in sensory organs suggest that independent modulation of stretch reflex gains may represent an impor-tant component of movement preparation. The aim of the current study was to further investigate the preparatory modulation of short-latency stretch reflex responses (SLRs) and long-latency stretch reflex responses (LLRs) of the dominant upper limb of human subjects. Specifically, we investigated how different target pa-rameters (target distance and direction) affect the preparatory tuning of stretch reflex gains in the context of goal-directed reaching, and whether any such tuning depends on preparation duration and the direction of background loads. We found that target distance produced only small variations in reflex gains. In contrast, both SLR and LLR gains were strongly modulated as a function of target direction, in a manner that facili-tated the upcoming voluntary movement. This goal-directed tuning of SLR and LLR gains was present or enhanced when the preparatory delay was sufficiently long (.250 ms) and the homonymous muscle was unloaded [i.e., when a background load was first applied in the direction of homonymous muscle action (as-sistive loading)]. The results extend further support for a relatively slow-evolving process in reach preparation that functions to modulate reflexive muscle stiffness, likely via the independent control of fusimotor neurons. Such control can augment voluntary goal-directed movement and is triggered or enhanced when the homonymous muscle is unloaded.
|
|
| 2. |
- Torell, Frida
(författare)
-
Evaluation of stretch reflex synergies in the upper limb using principal component analysis (PCA)
- 2023
-
Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 18:10
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dynamic nature of movement and muscle activation emphasizes the importance of a sound experimental design. To ensure that an experiment determines what we intend, the design must be carefully evaluated. Before analyzing data, it is imperative to limit the number of outliers, biases, and skewness. In the present study, a simple center-out experiment was performed by 16 healthy volunteers. The experiment included three load conditions, two preparatory delays, two perturbations, and four targets placed along a diagonal path on a 2D plane. While the participants performed the tasks, the activity of seven arm muscles were monitored using surface electromyography (EMG). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to evaluate the study design, identify muscle synergies, and assess the effects of individual quirks. With PCA, we can identify the trials that trigger stretch reflexes and pinpoint muscle synergies. The posterior deltoid, triceps long head, and brachioradialis were engaged when targets were in the direction of muscle shortening and the perturbation was applied in the opposite direction. Similarly, the pectoralis and anterior deltoid were engaged when the targets were in the direction of muscle shortening and the perturbation was applied in the opposite direction. The stretch reflexes were not triggered when the perturbation brought the hand in the direction of, or into the target, except if the muscle was preloaded. The use of PCA was also proven valuable when evaluating participant performance. While individual quirks are to be expected, failure to perform trials as expected can adversely affect the study results.
|
|
| 3. |
- Torell, Frida, et al.
(författare)
-
Goal-directed modulation of stretch reflex gains is reduced in the non-dominant upper limb
- 2023
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Neuroscience. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0953-816X .- 1460-9568. ; 58:9, s. 3981-4001
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Most individuals experience their dominant arm as being more dexterous than the non-dominant arm, but the neural mechanisms underlying this asymmetry in motor behaviour are unclear. Using a delayed-reach task, we have recently demonstrated strong goal-directed tuning of stretch reflex gains in the dominant upper limb of human participants. Here, we used an equivalent experimental paradigm to address the neural mechanisms that underlie the preparation for reaching movements with the non-dominant upper limb. There were consistent effects of load, preparatory delay duration and target direction on the long latency stretch reflex. However, by comparing stretch reflex responses in the non-dominant arm with those previously documented in the dominant arm, we demonstrate that goal-directed tuning of short and long latency stretch reflexes is markedly weaker in the non-dominant limb. The results indicate that the motor performance asymmetries across the two upper limbs are partly due to the more sophisticated control of reflexive stiffness in the dominant limb, likely facilitated by the superior goal-directed control of muscle spindle receptors. Our findings therefore suggest that fusimotor control may play a role in determining performance of complex motor behaviours and support existing proposals that the dominant arm is better supplied than the non-dominant arm for executing more complex tasks, such as trajectory control.
|
|
