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Published on: June 20, 2012
Neural correlates of task-related changes in physiological tremor
Christopher M Laine1, Francesco Negro, Dario Farina
1Department of Neurorehabilitation Engineering, Bernstein Focus Neurotechnology (BFNT) Göttingen, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience (BCCN), University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany.
Visual feedback alters muscle force control by changing neural drive. Target-guided contractions showed increased force tremor and altered motor unit coherence, suggesting modified synaptic input to motoneurons.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Muscle contraction control integrates motor commands and sensory feedback.
- Visual feedback significantly influences sensorimotor integration and task performance.
- Neural drive alterations underlying visual feedback effects on muscle force remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how visual feedback affects neural drive during muscle force production.
- To compare force fluctuations and neural drive in target-guided versus self-guided contractions.
- To elucidate the impact of visual guidance on sensorimotor integration.
Main Methods:
- Isometric contractions of the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle were performed.
- Participants engaged in self-guided (random force variation) and target-guided (force tracking) conditions.
- Force fluctuations and motor unit coherence were analyzed using coherence analysis.
Main Results:
- Target-guided contractions exhibited significantly increased force tremor in the 3-5 Hz and 7-9 Hz ranges.
- Motor unit coherence analysis revealed decreased coherence in the 3-5 Hz range and increased coherence in the 7-9 Hz range during target-guided tasks.
- These findings indicate altered frequency content of common synaptic input to motoneurons.
Conclusions:
- Visual guidance modifies the neural control of muscle force.
- Changes in stretch-reflex gain may underlie observed alterations in force tremor and motor unit coherence.
- This study provides insights into the neural mechanisms of visually guided motor control.
