Human 8-to 10-Hz pulsatile motor output during active exploration of textured surfaces reflects the textures' frictional properties

Dione, Mariama,1987Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för neurovetenskap och fysiologi, sektionen för fysiologi,Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Physiology (author)

Active sensing in biological system consists of emitting/receiving a periodic signal to explore the environment. The signal can be emitted toward distant objects. as in echolocation, or in direct contact with the object. for example, whisking in rodents. We explored the hypothesis that a similar mechanism exists in humans. Humans generate periodic signals at similar to 10 Hz during voluntary finger movements, which reflects a pulsatile motor command in the central nervous system. In the present study, we tested whether the similar to 10-Hz signal persists during the active exploration of textures and whether the textures' features can modulate the signal. Our results confirm our assumptions. The similar to 10-Ilz signal persisted during active touch, and its amplitude increased with textures of higher friction. These findings support the idea that the similar to 10-Hz periodic signal generated during voluntary finger movements is part of an active sensing mechanism acting in a pulse-amplitude modulation fashion to convey relevant tactile information to the brain. NEW & NOTEWORTHY For the first time, we show that pulsatile motor output during voluntary movement of a finger persists during active exploration of a surface. We propose that this is part of an active sensing system in humans, with generation of an similar to 10-Hz signal during active touch that reinforces extraction of information about features of the touched surface.

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper Fysiologi hsv//swe
MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES Basic Medicine Physiology hsv//eng
MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper Neurovetenskaper hsv//swe
MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES Basic Medicine Neurosciences hsv//eng
movement discontinuities
muscle vibrations
pulsatile motor output
tremor
ballistic movement
discharge patterns
muscle activation
finger
movements
40 hz
tremor
slow
contraction
instability
frequency
Neurosciences & Neurology
Physiology

Wessberg, Johan,1962Gothenburg University,Göteborgs universitet,Institutionen för neurovetenskap och fysiologi, sektionen för fysiologi,Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Physiology(Swepub:gu)xwessj (author)
Göteborgs universitetInstitutionen för neurovetenskap och fysiologi, sektionen för fysiologi (creator_code:org_t)

In:Journal of Neurophysiology: American Physiological Society122:3, s. 922-9320022-30771522-1598

About the subject

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Basic Medicine; and Physiology

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES: MEDICAL AND HEAL ...; and Basic Medicine; and Neurosciences

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