The frequency content of common synaptic inputs to motoneurones studied during voluntary isometric contraction in man. 1993

S F Farmer, and F D Bremner, and D M Halliday, and J R Rosenberg, and J A Stephens
Department of Physiology, University College London.

1. The discharges of pairs of individual motor units were recorded from intrinsic hand muscles in man. Single motor unit recordings were obtained either when both members of the motor unit pair were within first dorsal interosseous muscle (1DI:1DI recordings) or where one motor unit was within 1DI and the other in second dorsal interosseous muscle (1DI:2DI recordings). The pairs of motor unit spike trains were cross-correlated in the time domain and the results compared to those of coherence analysis performed on the same spike train data. Central peaks were present in the cross-intensity functions, indicating the presence of common synaptic input to the motoneurone pair. Coherence analysis of these data indicated significant association between motor unit firing in the frequency ranges 1-12 and 16-32 Hz. 2. Analysis of sequential non-overlapping segments of data recorded from individual motor unit pairs, demonstrated that both the central cross-intensity peak and coherence in the frequency bands 1-12 and 16-32 Hz were consistent features throughout a long recording. In these sequential recordings, the size of the central cross-intensity peak and the maximal value of coherence in the frequency band 16-32 Hz covaried from segment to segment. Analysis of the entire population of motor unit pairs confirmed a positive relationship between the magnitude of peak coherence and the size of the central cross-intensity peak. 3. Voluntary sinusoidal co-modulation of the firing rates of pairs of individual motor units recorded from within 1DI was found to produce significant values of coherence corresponding to the frequency of the common modulation. However, firing rate co-modulation was not found to affect either the size of the central cross-intensity peak or the maximum value of coherence in the frequency band 16-32 Hz. 4. Pairs of single motor units were recorded from within 1DI and biceps brachii muscles of healthy subjects. The number and size of the central cross-intensity peaks and coherence peaks detected were compared for the two muscles. The incidence and size of central cross-intensity peaks and the incidence and magnitude of 16-32 Hz coherence peaks were both found to be greater for 1DI recordings when compared to biceps brachii recordings. 5. Single motor unit recordings were made from the intrinsic hand muscles of a patient with severe peripheral deafferentation. Time- and frequency-domain analysis of these recordings revealed cross-intensity peaks and frequency bands of coherence similar to those seen in healthy subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007537 Isometric Contraction Muscular contractions characterized by increase in tension without change in length. Contraction, Isometric,Contractions, Isometric,Isometric Contractions
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009046 Motor Neurons Neurons which activate MUSCLE CELLS. Neurons, Motor,Alpha Motorneurons,Motoneurons,Motor Neurons, Alpha,Neurons, Alpha Motor,Alpha Motor Neuron,Alpha Motor Neurons,Alpha Motorneuron,Motoneuron,Motor Neuron,Motor Neuron, Alpha,Motorneuron, Alpha,Motorneurons, Alpha,Neuron, Alpha Motor,Neuron, Motor
D009132 Muscles Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals. Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009434 Neural Pathways Neural tracts connecting one part of the nervous system with another. Neural Interconnections,Interconnection, Neural,Interconnections, Neural,Neural Interconnection,Neural Pathway,Pathway, Neural,Pathways, Neural
D009475 Neurons, Afferent Neurons which conduct NERVE IMPULSES to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. Afferent Neurons,Afferent Neuron,Neuron, Afferent
D002561 Cerebrovascular Disorders A spectrum of pathological conditions of impaired blood flow in the brain. They can involve vessels (ARTERIES or VEINS) in the CEREBRUM, the CEREBELLUM, and the BRAIN STEM. Major categories include INTRACRANIAL ARTERIOVENOUS MALFORMATIONS; BRAIN ISCHEMIA; CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE; and others. Brain Vascular Disorders,Intracranial Vascular Disorders,Vascular Diseases, Intracranial,Cerebrovascular Diseases,Cerebrovascular Insufficiency,Cerebrovascular Occlusion,Brain Vascular Disorder,Cerebrovascular Disease,Cerebrovascular Disorder,Cerebrovascular Insufficiencies,Cerebrovascular Occlusions,Disease, Cerebrovascular,Diseases, Cerebrovascular,Insufficiencies, Cerebrovascular,Insufficiency, Cerebrovascular,Intracranial Vascular Disease,Intracranial Vascular Diseases,Intracranial Vascular Disorder,Occlusion, Cerebrovascular,Occlusions, Cerebrovascular,Vascular Disease, Intracranial,Vascular Disorder, Brain,Vascular Disorder, Intracranial,Vascular Disorders, Brain,Vascular Disorders, Intracranial
D004576 Electromyography Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes. Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D006225 Hand The distal part of the arm beyond the wrist in humans and primates, that includes the palm, fingers, and thumb. Hands
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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