Discharge properties of motor units from ankle extensor and flexor muscles during sinusoidal modulation of the joint torque and angle

• Grant number: 13/10433-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: September 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: André Fábio Kohn
• Grantee: Leonardo Abdala Elias
• Host Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims at investigating the role of descending pathways, proprioceptive feedback, and spinal neuronal networks on the genesis of oscillations in the ankle joint torque produced by the Triceps Surae or Tibialis Anterior muscles, as well as in the muscles' electromyograms (EMGs). Information about the common drive impinging on the motor neuron pools may be provided by monitoring the activity of multiple motor units (MUs). Therefore, one key focus of this project will be on the recording and analysis of MU activities during the execution of sinusoidal modulations of the ankle joint torque and angular position. Time- and frequency-domain analyses will be used to verify changes in the discharge patterns and synchronism indexes of MUs when the torque and/or angular position of the ankle joint are voluntarily or passively modulated. An important tool to aid in the interpretation of the experimental results is the computer simulation of neuromusculoskeletal models. This approach allows one to investigate the individual contribution of the above-cited pathways so as to provide important clues on neurophysiological and/or biomechanical mechanisms behind the control of a given motor task. Therefore, in this project a neuromusculoskeletal model previously developed in our lab will be used to simulate the experimental conditions in order to provide theoretical bases for the experimental findings. The results of this study will provide advances in the understanding of neurophysiological mechanisms of movement control from both experimental and theoretical/computational perspectives.

Scientific publications

(5)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MAGALHAES, FERNANDO HENRIQUE; ELIAS, LEONARDO ABDALA; DA SILVA, CRISTIANO ROCHA; DE LIMA, FELIPE FAVA; DE TOLEDO, DIANA REZENDE; KOHN, ANDRE FABIO. D1 and D2 Inhibitions of the Soleus H-Reflex Are Differentially Modulated during Plantarflexion Force and Position Tasks. PLoS One, v. 10, n. 11, NOV 24 2015. (13/10433-1, 12/09321-1, 11/13222-6, 11/17193-0, 13/14667-7)

WATANABE, RENATO N.; MAGALHAES, FERNANDO H.; ELIAS, LEONARDO A.; CHAUD, VITOR M.; MELLO, EMANUELE M.; KOHN, ANDRE F.. Influences of premotoneuronal command statistics on the scaling of motor output variability during isometric plantar flexion. Journal of Neurophysiology, v. 110, n. 11, p. 2592-2606, DEC 2013. (10/12934-0, 13/10433-1, 11/21103-7, 11/13222-6, 09/15802-0)

NAKAJIMA, TSUYOSHI; TAZOE, TOSHIKI; SAKAMOTO, MASANORI; ENDOH, TAKASHI; SHIBUYA, SATOSHI; ELIAS, LEONARDO A.; MEZZARANE, RINALDO A.; KOMIYAMA, TOMOYOSHI; OHKI, YUKARI. Reassessment of Non-Monosynaptic Excitation from the Motor Cortex to Motoneurons in Single Motor Units of the Human Biceps Brachii. FRONTIERS IN HUMAN NEUROSCIENCE, v. 11, JAN 30 2017. (13/10433-1, 12/05304-5, 09/15802-0)

RIBEIRO, REBECCA FERNANDES; FRENCL, VICTOR BAPTISTA; ELIAS, LEONARDO ABDALA; RIBEIRO DO VAL, JOAO BOSCO. A Case Study on the Removal of Blinking Artifact in Electroencephalogram Signals via Stochastic Filtering. JOURNAL OF CONTROL AUTOMATION AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, v. 33, n. 4, p. 10-pg., 2022-01-12. (13/10433-1, 11/17193-0)

MEZZARANE, RINALDO ANDRE; MAGALHAES, FERNANDO HENRIQUE; CHAUD, VITOR MARTINS; ELIAS, LEONARDO ABDALA; KOHN, ANDRE FABIO. Enhanced D1 and D2 Inhibitions Induced by Low-Frequency Trains of Conditioning Stimuli: Differential Effects on H- and T-Reflexes and Possible Mechanisms. PLoS One, v. 10, n. 3, MAR 25 2015. (10/15522-4, 13/10433-1, 11/13222-6, 09/15802-0, 11/17193-0)