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Related Experiment Videos

Functional modulation of shoulder girdle stability.

C M Alexander1, R Miley, P J Harrison

  • 1Department of Physiology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. c.alexander@ucl.ac.uk

Experimental Brain Research
|October 27, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Electrical stimulation of the ulnar nerve triggers a reflex in the trapezius muscle. This reflex is amplified during tasks requiring high manual dexterity, suggesting its importance in fine motor control.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Human Motor Control
  • Reflex Physiology

Background:

  • Previous research demonstrated that electrical stimulation of the ulnar nerve (at group I strength) elicits reflex excitation of the trapezius muscle in healthy individuals.
  • The role and modulation of this specific reflex during various functional tasks remained largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how different tasks influence the reflex excitation of the trapezius muscle evoked by ulnar nerve stimulation.
  • To determine if task-related modulation of this reflex is dependent on the complexity or motor demands of the task.

Main Methods:

  • The study involved evoking the reflex by electrical stimulation of the ulnar nerve in human subjects.
  • Subjects performed a range of tasks, including those requiring high manual dexterity and those with minimal hand/wrist movement.

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  • The magnitude of the trapezius muscle reflex was measured during these different tasks.

    • Main Results:

    • The reflex excitation of the trapezius muscle was significantly larger when subjects performed tasks demanding a high degree of manual dexterity.
    • Conversely, tasks achievable with minimal hand or wrist muscle activity showed no apparent dependency on the task itself.
    • This indicates a task-specific modulation of the reflex gain.

    Conclusions:

    • The findings suggest that compensatory reflexes, like the one studied, play a more critical role in delicate hand tasks than in basic motor functions such as lifting.
    • Task-related changes in reflex gain may have functional consequences, potentially contributing to phenomena like intention tremor.