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Motor Unit Stimulation

Motor Unit Stimulation

When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 16, 2025

Assessing Corticospinal Excitability During Goal-Directed Reaching Behavior

Assessing Corticospinal Excitability During Goal-Directed Reaching Behavior

Published on: December 2, 2022

Assessing Corticospinal Excitability During Goal-Directed Reaching Behavior.

Isaac N Gomez¹, Serena R Orsinger¹, Hyosub E Kim²

¹Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon.

Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove

|December 19, 2022

Summary

This study introduces a new method combining a reaching task with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electromyography (EMG) to noninvasively measure corticospinal excitability during movement preparation and adaptation.

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Last Updated: Aug 16, 2025

Assessing Corticospinal Excitability During Goal-Directed Reaching Behavior

Assessing Corticospinal Excitability During Goal-Directed Reaching Behavior

Published on: December 2, 2022

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

Published on: December 31, 2013

An Emerging Target Paradigm to Evoke Fast Visuomotor Responses on Human Upper Limb Muscles

An Emerging Target Paradigm to Evoke Fast Visuomotor Responses on Human Upper Limb Muscles

Published on: August 25, 2020

Area of Science:

Motor Physiology
Neuroscience
Motor Control

Background:

Reaching behavior is extensively studied, yet neural processes in planning, execution, and control require further elucidation.
Existing methods have limitations in precisely measuring neural activity during reaching tasks.

Purpose of the Study:

To present a novel, noninvasive method integrating a 2D reaching task with TMS and EMG.
To enable precise temporal measurement of corticospinal excitability during reach preparation and adaptation.

Main Methods:

A delayed response 2D reaching task with two target locations.
Single-pulse TMS delivered at specific time points (baseline or delay period).
Concurrent EMG recording and visuomotor perturbation (cursor rotation) for adaptation studies.

Main Results:

Successfully elicited motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in 83% of TMS trials.
Reach trajectories were recorded in 100% of trials.
The methodology allows for investigating corticospinal excitability changes during reach preparation and adaptation.

Conclusions:

The combined TMS-EMG and reaching task provides a powerful noninvasive tool for neuroscience research.
This approach facilitates detailed investigation into the neural underpinnings of motor control and adaptation.
Task parameters are adjustable for diverse research hypotheses on the motor system's state.