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Le Ray D, Guayasamin M. How Does the Central Nervous System for Posture and Locomotion Cope With Damage-Induced Neural Asymmetry? Front Syst Neurosci 2022; 16:828532. [PMID: 35308565 PMCID: PMC8927091 DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2022.828532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In most vertebrates, posture and locomotion are achieved by a biomechanical apparatus whose effectors are symmetrically positioned around the main body axis. Logically, motor commands to these effectors are intrinsically adapted to such anatomical symmetry, and the underlying sensory-motor neural networks are correspondingly arranged during central nervous system (CNS) development. However, many developmental and/or life accidents may alter such neural organization and acutely generate asymmetries in motor operation that are often at least partially compensated for over time. First, we briefly present the basic sensory-motor organization of posturo-locomotor networks in vertebrates. Next, we review some aspects of neural plasticity that is implemented in response to unilateral central injury or asymmetrical sensory deprivation in order to substantially restore symmetry in the control of posturo-locomotor functions. Data are finally discussed in the context of CNS structure-function relationship.
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Minamisawa T, Chiba N, Suzuki E. Intra- and Intermuscular Coherence and Body Acceleration Control in Older Adults during Bipedal Stance. Geriatrics (Basel) 2021; 6:geriatrics6040114. [PMID: 34940339 PMCID: PMC8701399 DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics6040114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Our aim was to clarify the effect of aging on the coherence of electromyograms of plantar flexor pairs during bipedal stance and to clarify the relationship between coherence and center-of-mass acceleration (COMacc). The subjects were 16 adults and 18 older adults. Intra- and intermuscular coherence and phase analyses were used to analyze the muscle pairs of bilateral and unilateral plantar flexor muscle groups. The relationship between coherence value and anterior-posterior COMacc of the plantar flexor muscle pairs was also examined to determine whether the connectivity of the lower limb muscle pairs is functionally important. The older adults showed higher coherence in the frequency range of 0-4 Hz for muscle pairs than the younger adults. In phase analysis, the older adults showed a phase difference between bilateral heteronymous muscle pairs in the frequency range of 0-6 Hz, which was one of the characteristics not seen in the younger adults. Correlation analysis showed that all the muscle pairs were moderately correlated with COMacc in the older adults. Not only does aging affects the organization of the bilateral and unilateral postural muscle activity of the plantar flexors during bipedal stance, but such organization may also be related to the increased COMacc characteristics of older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tadayoshi Minamisawa
- Department of Physical Therapy, Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 260 Kamiyanagi, Yamagata 990-2212, Japan;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-23-686-6639
| | - Noboru Chiba
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 260 Kamiyanagi, Yamagata 990-2212, Japan;
| | - Eizaburo Suzuki
- Department of Physical Therapy, Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 260 Kamiyanagi, Yamagata 990-2212, Japan;
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Akay T, Murray AJ. Relative Contribution of Proprioceptive and Vestibular Sensory Systems to Locomotion: Opportunities for Discovery in the Age of Molecular Science. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1467. [PMID: 33540567 PMCID: PMC7867206 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Locomotion is a fundamental animal behavior required for survival and has been the subject of neuroscience research for centuries. In terrestrial mammals, the rhythmic and coordinated leg movements during locomotion are controlled by a combination of interconnected neurons in the spinal cord, referred as to the central pattern generator, and sensory feedback from the segmental somatosensory system and supraspinal centers such as the vestibular system. How segmental somatosensory and the vestibular systems work in parallel to enable terrestrial mammals to locomote in a natural environment is still relatively obscure. In this review, we first briefly describe what is known about how the two sensory systems control locomotion and use this information to formulate a hypothesis that the weight of the role of segmental feedback is less important at slower speeds but increases at higher speeds, whereas the weight of the role of vestibular system has the opposite relation. The new avenues presented by the latest developments in molecular sciences using the mouse as the model system allow the direct testing of the hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turgay Akay
- Atlantic Mobility Action Project, Brain Repair Centre, Department of Medical Neuroscience, Life Science Research Institute, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Andrew J. Murray
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University College London, London W1T 4JG, UK
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Liu X, Rosendo A, Ikemoto S, Shimizu M, Hosoda K. Robotic investigation on effect of stretch reflex and crossed inhibitory response on bipedal hopping. J R Soc Interface 2019; 15:rsif.2018.0024. [PMID: 29593088 PMCID: PMC5908536 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
To maintain balance during dynamic locomotion, the effects of proprioceptive sensory feedback control (e.g. reflexive control) should not be ignored because of its simple sensation and fast reaction time. Scientists have identified the pathways of reflexes; however, it is difficult to investigate their effects during locomotion because locomotion is controlled by a complex neural system and current technology does not allow us to change the control pathways in living humans. To understand these effects, we construct a musculoskeletal bipedal robot, which has similar body structure and dynamics to those of a human. By conducting experiments on this robot, we investigate the effects of reflexes (stretch reflex and crossed inhibitory response) on posture during hopping, a simple and representative bouncing gait with complex dynamics. Through over 300 hopping trials, we confirm that both the stretch reflex and crossed response can contribute to reducing the lateral inclination during hopping. These reflexive pathways do not use any prior knowledge of the dynamic information of the body such as its inclination. Beyond improving the understanding of the human neural system, this study provides roboticists with biomimetic ideas for robot locomotion control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangxiao Liu
- Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Japan
| | - Andre Rosendo
- Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Japan
| | - Shuhei Ikemoto
- Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Japan
| | | | - Koh Hosoda
- Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Japan
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McCrum C, Karamanidis K, Willems P, Zijlstra W, Meijer K. Retention, savings and interlimb transfer of reactive gait adaptations in humans following unexpected perturbations. Commun Biol 2018; 1:230. [PMID: 30564751 PMCID: PMC6294781 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0238-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactive locomotor adaptations are crucial for safe mobility, but remain relatively unexplored. Here we assess reactive gait adaptations, and their retention, savings and interlimb transfer. Using new methods to normalise walking speed and perturbation magnitude, we expose eighteen healthy adults to ten unexpected treadmill belt accelerations during walking (the first and last perturbing the right leg, the others perturbing the left leg) on two days, one month apart. Analysis of the margins of stability using kinematic data reveals that humans reactively adapt gait, improving stability and taking fewer recovery steps, and fully retain these adaptations over time. On re-exposure, retention and savings lead to further improvements in stability. Currently, the role of interlimb transfer is unclear. Our findings show that humans utilise retention and savings in reactive gait adaptations to benefit stability, but that interlimb transfer may not be exclusively responsible for improvements following perturbations to the untrained limb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher McCrum
- 1Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD The Netherlands.,2Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, Cologne, 50933 Germany
| | - Kiros Karamanidis
- 3Sport and Exercise Science Research Centre, School of Applied Sciences, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA UK
| | - Paul Willems
- 1Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD The Netherlands
| | - Wiebren Zijlstra
- 2Institute of Movement and Sport Gerontology, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, Cologne, 50933 Germany
| | - Kenneth Meijer
- 1Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD The Netherlands
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Laflamme OD, Akay T. Excitatory and inhibitory crossed reflex pathways in mice. J Neurophysiol 2018; 120:2897-2907. [PMID: 30303749 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00450.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensory information from one leg has been known to elicit reflex responses in the contralateral leg, known as "crossed reflexes," and these have been investigated extensively in cats and humans. Furthermore, experiments with mice have shown commissural pathways in detail by using in vitro and in vivo physiological approaches combined with genetics. However, the relationship between these commissural pathways discovered in mice and crossed reflex pathways described in cats and humans is not known. In this study, we analyzed the crossed reflex in mice by using in vivo electromyographic recording techniques combined with peripheral nerve stimulation protocols to provide a detailed description of the crossed reflex pathways. We show that excitatory crossed reflexes are mediated by both proprioceptive and cutaneous afferent activation. In addition, we provide evidence for a short-latency inhibitory crossed reflex pathway likely mediated by cutaneous feedback. Furthermore, the short-latency crossed inhibition is downregulated in the knee extensor muscle and the ankle flexor muscle during locomotion. In conclusion, this article provides an analysis of excitatory and inhibitory crossed reflex pathways during resting and locomoting mice in vivo. The data presented in this article pave the way for future research aimed at understanding crossed reflexes using genetics in mice. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We describe for the first time excitatory and inhibitory crossed reflex pathways in mouse spinal cord in vivo and show that the inhibitory pathways are modulated during walking. This is a first step toward an understanding of crossed reflexes and their function during walking using in vivo recording techniques combined with mouse genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier D Laflamme
- Atlantic Mobility Action Project, Brain Repair Center, Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University , Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada
| | - Turgay Akay
- Atlantic Mobility Action Project, Brain Repair Center, Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University , Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada
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Gervasio S, Finocchietti S, Stevenson AJT, Mrachacz-Kersting N. Delayed muscle onset soreness in the gastrocnemius muscle attenuates the spinal contribution to interlimb communication. Eur J Appl Physiol 2018; 118:2393-2402. [PMID: 30132112 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-018-3966-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) has been shown to induce changes in muscle activity during walking. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether DOMS also affects interlimb communication during walking by investigating its effect on short-latency crossed responses (SLCRs). METHODS SLCRs were elicited in two recording sessions by electrically stimulating the tibial nerve of the ipsilateral leg, and quantified in the contralateral gastrocnemius muscle. The second recording session occurred 24-36 h after the participants (n = 11) performed eccentric exercises with the ipsilateral calf. RESULTS DOMS caused a decreased magnitude of the spinally mediated component of the SLCR in the contralateral gastrocnemius medialis. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study provide insight on the relationship between pain and motor control. Muscle pain affects the spinal pathway mediating interlimb communication, which might result in a reduced ability to maintain dynamical stability during walking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabata Gervasio
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7 D-3, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark.
| | - Sara Finocchietti
- U-VIP: Unit for Visually Impaired People, Center for Human Technologies, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Genova, Italy
| | - Andrew J T Stevenson
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7 D-3, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Natalie Mrachacz-Kersting
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7 D-3, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
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Mrachacz-Kersting N, Gervasio S, Marchand-Pauvert V. Evidence for a Supraspinal Contribution to the Human Crossed Reflex Response During Human Walking. Front Hum Neurosci 2018; 12:260. [PMID: 30008667 PMCID: PMC6034574 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans, an ipsilateral tibial nerve (iTN) stimulation elicits short-latency-crossed-responses (SLCR) comprised of two bursts in the contralateral gastrocnemius lateralis (cGL) muscle. The average onset latency has been reported to be 57-69 ms with a duration of 30.4 ± 6.6 ms. The aim of this study was to elucidate if a transcortical pathway contributes to the SLCR. In Experiment 1 (n = 9), single pulse supra-threshold transcranial magnetic stimulation (supraTMS) was applied alone or in combination with iTN stimulation (85% of the maximum M-wave) while participants walked on a treadmill (delay between the SLCR and the motor evoked potentials (MEP) varied between -30 and 200 ms). In Experiment 2 (n = 6), single pulse sub-threshold TMS (subTMS) was performed and the interstimulus interval (ISI) varied between 0-30 ms. In Experiment 3, somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were recorded during the iTN stimulation to quantify the latency of the resulting afferent volley at the cortical level. SLCRs and MEPs in cGL occurred at 63 ± 6 ms and 29 ± 2 ms, respectively. The mean SEP latency was 30 ± 3 ms. Thus, a transcortical pathway could contribute no earlier than 62-69 ms (SEP+MEP+central-processing-delay) after iTN stimulation. Combined iTN stimulation and supraTMS resulted in a significant MEP extra-facilitation when supraTMS was timed so that the MEP would coincide with the late component of the SLCR, while subTMS significantly depressed this component. This is the first study that demonstrates the existence of a strong cortical control on spinal pathways mediating the SLCR. This likely serves to enhance flexibility, ensuring that the appropriate output is produced in accord with the functional demand.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabata Gervasio
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Gervasio S, Voigt M, Kersting UG, Farina D, Sinkjær T, Mrachacz-Kersting N. Sensory Feedback in Interlimb Coordination: Contralateral Afferent Contribution to the Short-Latency Crossed Response during Human Walking. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0168557. [PMID: 28060839 PMCID: PMC5218569 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A constant coordination between the left and right leg is required to maintain stability during human locomotion, especially in a variable environment. The neural mechanisms underlying this interlimb coordination are not yet known. In animals, interneurons located within the spinal cord allow direct communication between the two sides without the need for the involvement of higher centers. These may also exist in humans since sensory feedback elicited by tibial nerve stimulation on one side (ipsilateral) can affect the muscles activation in the opposite side (contralateral), provoking short-latency crossed responses (SLCRs). The current study investigated whether contralateral afferent feedback contributes to the mechanism controlling the SLCR in human gastrocnemius muscle. Surface electromyogram, kinematic and kinetic data were recorded from subjects during normal walking and hybrid walking (with the legs moving in opposite directions). An inverse dynamics model was applied to estimate the gastrocnemius muscle proprioceptors’ firing rate. During normal walking, a significant correlation was observed between the magnitude of SLCRs and the estimated muscle spindle secondary afferent activity (P = 0.04). Moreover, estimated spindle secondary afferent and Golgi tendon organ activity were significantly different (P ≤ 0.01) when opposite responses have been observed, that is during normal (facilitation) and hybrid walking (inhibition) conditions. Contralateral sensory feedback, specifically spindle secondary afferents, likely plays a significant role in generating the SLCR. This observation has important implications for our understanding of what future research should be focusing on to optimize locomotor recovery in patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabata Gervasio
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Michael Voigt
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Uwe G. Kersting
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Dario Farina
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Thomas Sinkjær
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- Villum Fonden, Søborg, Denmark
| | - Natalie Mrachacz-Kersting
- Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
- * E-mail:
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