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Updated: Apr 11, 2026

In Vivo Electrophysiological Measurement of Compound Muscle Action Potential from the Forelimbs in Mouse Models of Motor Neuron Degeneration
Published on: June 15, 2018
Identifying fasciculation potentials in motor neuron disease: A matter of probability
Boudewijn T H M Sleutjes1, Ivan Gligorijević2, Inger Montfoort1
1Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Introduction:
Fasciculations, the spontaneous activity of single motor units (MUs) are characteristic, but nonspecific for motor neuron disease (MND). We aimed to identify MU discharge properties to optimally differentiate MND patients from healthy controls.
Methods:
High-density surface electromyography recordings were performed in the thenar muscles during 10 min of rest. MU discharges were classified as "isolated" when the interspike intervals (ISIs) before and after were > 250 ms, "continual" when both ISIs were ≤ 250 ms, or as "other".
Results:
In patients (n = 30) compared with controls (n = 14), more MUs were active (9 vs. 3, P < 0.001) and generated relatively more isolated discharges (35% vs. 10%, P = 0.01). Two or more MUs with isolated discharges occurred more frequently in patients compared with controls (24% vs. <1% of 10-s windows, P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
More frequent occurrence of multiple MUs showing isolated discharges may improve identification of patients with MND.
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