Fine-wire recordings of flexor hallucis brevis motor units up to maximal voluntary contraction reveal a flexible, nonrigid mechanism for force control
Jeroen Aeles, Luke A. Kelly, Yasuhide Yoshitake, Andrew G. Cresswell
Abstract
We recorded for the first time single motor unit action potential trains in the flexor hallucis brevis, a short toe muscle, over the full range of maximum voluntary contraction. Its motor units are recruited up to very high (98%) recruitment thresholds with a substantial range of discharge rates. We further show high variability with crossover of discharge rates as a function of recruitment threshold both between participants and between motor units within participants.
Topics & Concepts
Motor unitPhysical medicine and rehabilitationContraction (grammar)TurnoverMotor controlMedicineNeurosciencePsychologyAnatomyInternal medicineEconomicsManagementMuscle activation and electromyography studiesMotor Control and AdaptationNeuroscience and Neural Engineering