Shivering and pathological and physiological clonic oscillations of the human ankle

Shivering and physiological and pathological clonus of the ankle were compared using power spectral and cross-correlation analysis of their respective electromyographic and acceleration waveforms. The major spectral peaks from each type of involuntary oscillation possessed similar frequencies (5-7 Hz). Soleus electromyographic activity was significantly correlated with the motion signal, whereas no correlation was observed between motion and tibialis anterior electromyographic signal. These data suggest that although shivering and physiological and pathological clonus are activated by different stimuli, these overt ankle oscillations may be an expression of a common spinal neuronal network.