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Cano LA, Gerez GD, García MS, Albarracín AL, Farfán FD, Fernández-Jover E. Decision-Making Time Analysis for Assessing Processing Speed in Athletes during Motor Reaction Tasks. Sports (Basel) 2024; 12:151. [PMID: 38921845 PMCID: PMC11207928 DOI: 10.3390/sports12060151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Reaction time (RT) is a widely used measure for testing physical performance in motor tasks. This study focused on assessing the processing speed in athletes. Twenty-five healthy volunteers were assigned to the control (n = 16) or athletes groups (n = 9). They were evaluated during motor reaction tasks based on visual stimuli and three difficulty conditions. Physiological measures were obtained from motion capture and electromyography recordings of several muscles. Two RT phases, decision-making (DMK) and electromechanical delay (EMD), were used to analyze the processing speed. The results show significant RT differences between groups. The athletes were ~30% faster compared to the control group. Despite the fact that all participants were right-handed, RT did not show any differences between hands performances in any group. However, DMK time revealed significant differences between the hands. Controls showed a longer DMK time for the right-hand election, ~20% more than the left, while athletes showed no such disparity. These findings reveal that quantifying the decision-making component of reaction time is crucial to assessing processing speed in sport. This approach could facilitate the monitoring of adaptations in both motor-cognitive and neuromuscular processes. The theoretical implications presented in this study offer perspectives on handedness research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Ariel Cano
- Neuroscience and Applied Technologies Laboratory (LINTEC), Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology (FACET), National University of Tucuman (UNT), Superior Institute of Biological Research (INSIBIO), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Av. Independencia 1800, San Miguel de Tucumán 4000, Argentina
- Faculty of Physical Education (FACDEF), National University of Tucuman (UNT), Av. Benjamin Araoz 750, San Miguel de Tucuman 4000, Argentina
| | - Gonzalo Daniel Gerez
- Neuroscience and Applied Technologies Laboratory (LINTEC), Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology (FACET), National University of Tucuman (UNT), Superior Institute of Biological Research (INSIBIO), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Av. Independencia 1800, San Miguel de Tucumán 4000, Argentina
- Faculty of Physical Education (FACDEF), National University of Tucuman (UNT), Av. Benjamin Araoz 750, San Miguel de Tucuman 4000, Argentina
| | - María Soledad García
- Neuroscience and Applied Technologies Laboratory (LINTEC), Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology (FACET), National University of Tucuman (UNT), Superior Institute of Biological Research (INSIBIO), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Av. Independencia 1800, San Miguel de Tucumán 4000, Argentina
- Faculty of Physical Education (FACDEF), National University of Tucuman (UNT), Av. Benjamin Araoz 750, San Miguel de Tucuman 4000, Argentina
| | - Ana Lía Albarracín
- Neuroscience and Applied Technologies Laboratory (LINTEC), Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology (FACET), National University of Tucuman (UNT), Superior Institute of Biological Research (INSIBIO), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Av. Independencia 1800, San Miguel de Tucumán 4000, Argentina
| | - Fernando Daniel Farfán
- Neuroscience and Applied Technologies Laboratory (LINTEC), Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology (FACET), National University of Tucuman (UNT), Superior Institute of Biological Research (INSIBIO), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Av. Independencia 1800, San Miguel de Tucumán 4000, Argentina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Universidad Miguel Hernández of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Eduardo Fernández-Jover
- Institute of Bioengineering, Universidad Miguel Hernández of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
- Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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2
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Luo S, Meng Q, Li S, Yu H. Research of intent recognition in rehabilitation robots: a systematic review. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2024; 19:1307-1318. [PMID: 36695473 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2023.2170477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Rehabilitation robots with intent recognition are helping people with dysfunction to enjoy better lives. Many rehabilitation robots with intent recognition have been developed by academic institutions and commercial companies. However, there is no systematic summary about the application of intent recognition in the field of rehabilitation robots. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to summarize the application of intent recognition in rehabilitation robots, analyze the current status of their research, and provide cutting-edge research directions for colleagues. MATERIALS AND METHODS Literature searches were conducted on Web of Science, IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Medline. Search terms included "rehabilitation robot", "intent recognition", "exoskeleton", "prosthesis", "surface electromyography (sEMG)" and "electroencephalogram (EEG)". References listed in relevant literature were further screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS In this field, most studies have recognized movement intent by kinematic, sEMG, and EEG signals. However, in practical studies, the development of intent recognition in rehabilitation robots is limited by the hysteresis of kinematic signals and the weak anti-interference ability of sEMG and EEG signals. CONCLUSIONS Intent recognition has achieved a lot in the field of rehabilitation robotics but the key factors limiting its development are still timeliness and accuracy. In the future, intent recognition strategy with multi-sensor information fusion may be a good solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengli Luo
- Institute of Rehabilitation Engineering and Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Sujiao Li
- Institute of Rehabilitation Engineering and Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongliu Yu
- Institute of Rehabilitation Engineering and Technology, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
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3
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Roeder L, Breakspear M, Kerr GK, Boonstra TW. Dynamics of brain-muscle networks reveal effects of age and somatosensory function on gait. iScience 2024; 27:109162. [PMID: 38414847 PMCID: PMC10897916 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Walking is a complex motor activity that requires coordinated interactions between the sensory and motor systems. We used mobile EEG and EMG to investigate the brain-muscle networks involved in gait control during overground walking in young people, older people, and individuals with Parkinson's disease. Dynamic interactions between the sensorimotor cortices and eight leg muscles within a gait cycle were assessed using multivariate analysis. We identified three distinct brain-muscle networks during a gait cycle. These networks include a bilateral network, a left-lateralized network activated during the left swing phase, and a right-lateralized network active during the right swing. The trajectories of these networks are contracted in older adults, indicating a reduction in neuromuscular connectivity with age. Individuals with the impaired tactile sensitivity of the foot showed a selective enhancement of the bilateral network, possibly reflecting a compensation strategy to maintain gait stability. These findings provide a parsimonious description of interindividual differences in neuromuscular connectivity during gait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Roeder
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Information Systems, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Chair of Human Movement Science, Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Breakspear
- College of Engineering Science and Environment, College of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Graham K Kerr
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Tjeerd W Boonstra
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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4
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Cano LA, Albarracín AL, Pizá AG, García-Cena CE, Fernández-Jover E, Farfán FD. Assessing Cognitive Workload in Motor Decision-Making through Functional Connectivity Analysis: Towards Early Detection and Monitoring of Neurodegenerative Diseases. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 24:1089. [PMID: 38400247 PMCID: PMC10893317 DOI: 10.3390/s24041089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and frontotemporal dementia, among others, are increasingly prevalent in the global population. The clinical diagnosis of these NDs is based on the detection and characterization of motor and non-motor symptoms. However, when these diagnoses are made, the subjects are often in advanced stages where neuromuscular alterations are frequently irreversible. In this context, we propose a methodology to evaluate the cognitive workload (CWL) of motor tasks involving decision-making processes. CWL is a concept widely used to address the balance between task demand and the subject's available resources to complete that task. In this study, multiple models for motor planning during a motor decision-making task were developed by recording EEG and EMG signals in n=17 healthy volunteers (9 males, 8 females, age 28.66±8.8 years). In the proposed test, volunteers have to make decisions about which hand should be moved based on the onset of a visual stimulus. We computed functional connectivity between the cortex and muscles, as well as among muscles using both corticomuscular and intermuscular coherence. Despite three models being generated, just one of them had strong performance. The results showed two types of motor decision-making processes depending on the hand to move. Moreover, the central processing of decision-making for the left hand movement can be accurately estimated using behavioral measures such as planning time combined with peripheral recordings like EMG signals. The models provided in this study could be considered as a methodological foundation to detect neuromuscular alterations in asymptomatic patients, as well as to monitor the process of a degenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Ariel Cano
- Neuroscience and Applied Technologies Laboratory (LINTEC), Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology (FACET), National University of Tucuman, Superior Institute of Biological Research (INSIBIO), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Av. Independencia 1800, San Miguel de Tucuman 4000, Argentina
| | - Ana Lía Albarracín
- Neuroscience and Applied Technologies Laboratory (LINTEC), Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology (FACET), National University of Tucuman, Superior Institute of Biological Research (INSIBIO), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Av. Independencia 1800, San Miguel de Tucuman 4000, Argentina
| | - Alvaro Gabriel Pizá
- Neuroscience and Applied Technologies Laboratory (LINTEC), Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology (FACET), National University of Tucuman, Superior Institute of Biological Research (INSIBIO), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Av. Independencia 1800, San Miguel de Tucuman 4000, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Elisabet García-Cena
- ETSIDI-Center for Automation and Robotics, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ronda de Valencia 3, 28012 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Fernández-Jover
- Institute of Bioengineering, Universidad Miguel Hernández of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
- Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Daniel Farfán
- Neuroscience and Applied Technologies Laboratory (LINTEC), Bioengineering Department, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technology (FACET), National University of Tucuman, Superior Institute of Biological Research (INSIBIO), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Av. Independencia 1800, San Miguel de Tucuman 4000, Argentina
- Institute of Bioengineering, Universidad Miguel Hernández of Elche, 03202 Elche, Spain
- Research Networking Center in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Ortega-Auriol P, Byblow WD, Besier T, McMorland AJC. Muscle synergies are associated with intermuscular coherence and cortico-synergy coherence in an isometric upper limb task. Exp Brain Res 2023; 241:2627-2643. [PMID: 37737925 PMCID: PMC10635925 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-023-06706-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
To elucidate the underlying physiological mechanisms of muscle synergies, we investigated long-range functional connectivity by cortico-muscular (CMC), intermuscular (IMC) and cortico-synergy (CSC) coherence. Fourteen healthy participants executed an isometric upper limb task in synergy-tuned directions. Cortical activity was recorded using 32-channel electroencephalography (EEG) and muscle activity using 16-channel electromyography (EMG). Using non-negative matrix factorisation (NMF), we calculated muscle synergies from two different tasks. A preliminary multidirectional task was used to identify synergy-preferred directions (PDs). A subsequent coherence task, consisting of generating forces isometrically in the synergy PDs, was used to assess the functional connectivity properties of synergies. Overall, we were able to identify four different synergies from the multidirectional task. A significant alpha band IMC was consistently present in all extracted synergies. Moreover, IMC alpha band was higher between muscles with higher weights within a synergy. Interestingly, CSC alpha band was also significantly higher across muscles with higher weights within a synergy. In contrast, no significant CMC was found between the motor cortex area and synergy muscles. The presence of a shared input onto synergistic muscles within a synergy supports the idea of neurally derived muscle synergies that build human movement. Our findings suggest cortical modulation of some of the synergies and the consequential existence of shared input between muscles within cortically modulated synergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Ortega-Auriol
- Department of Exercise Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Winston D Byblow
- Department of Exercise Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Thor Besier
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Angus J C McMorland
- Department of Exercise Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Delcamp C, Gasq D, Cormier C, Amarantini D. Corticomuscular and intermuscular coherence are correlated after stroke: a simplified motor control? Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad187. [PMID: 37377979 PMCID: PMC10292907 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
During movement, corticomuscular coherence is a measure of central-peripheral communication, while intermuscular coherence is a measure of the amount of common central drive to the muscles. Although these two measures are modified in stroke subjects, no author has explored a correlation between them, neither in stroke subjects nor in healthy subjects. Twenty-four chronic stroke subjects and 22 healthy control subjects were included in this cohort study, and they performed 20 active elbow extension movements. The electroencephalographic and electromyographic activity of the elbow flexors and extensors were recorded. Corticomuscular and intermuscular coherence were calculated in the time-frequency domain for each limb of stroke and control subjects. Partial rank correlations were performed to study the link between these two variables. Our results showed a positive correlation between corticomuscular and intermuscular coherence only for stroke subjects, for their paretic and non-paretic limbs (P < 0.022; Rho > 0.50). These results suggest, beyond the cortical and spinal hypotheses to explain them, that stroke subjects present a form of simplification of motor control. When central-peripheral communication increases, it is less modulated and more common to the muscles involved in the active movement. This motor control simplification suggests a new way of understanding the plasticity of the neuromuscular system after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia Delcamp
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, Université Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - David Gasq
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, Université Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse, France
- Department of Functional Physiological Explorations, University Hospital of Toulouse, Hôpital de Rangueil, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Camille Cormier
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, Université Paul Sabatier, 31062 Toulouse, France
- Department of Functional Physiological Explorations, University Hospital of Toulouse, Hôpital de Rangueil, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - David Amarantini
- Correspondence to: David Amarantini Unité ToNIC, UMR 1214, CHU PURPAN – Pavillon BAUDOT Place du Dr Joseph Baylac, 31024 Toulouse Cedex 3, France E-mail:
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7
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Characteristics analysis of muscle function network and its application to muscle compensatory in repetitive movement. Biomed Signal Process Control 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2023.104639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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8
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Glories D, Duclay J. Recurrent inhibition contribution to corticomuscular coherence modulation between contraction types. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2023; 33:597-608. [PMID: 36609914 DOI: 10.1111/sms.14309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Recent findings provided evidence that spinal regulatory mechanisms were involved in corticomuscular coherence (CMC) modulation between contraction types. Although their relative contributions could not be precisely identified, it was suggested that recurrent inhibition (RI) could modulate CMC by regulating the synchronization of spinal motoneuron activity. To confirm this hypothesis, concurrent modulations of RI and CMC for the soleus (SOL) were compared during submaximal isometric, shortening and lengthening plantar flexions. Submaximal contraction intensity was set at 50% of the maximal SOL EMG activity. CMC was computed in the time-frequency domain between the Cz EEG electrode signal and the nonrectified SOL EMG signal. The RI was quantified through the paired Hoffmann (H) reflex technique by comparing the modulations of the test and conditioning H-reflexes (H' and H1 , respectively). Both beta-band CMC and the ratio between H' and H1 amplitudes were significantly lower in SOL during lengthening compared with isometric and shortening contractions. Furthermore, we observed a negative linear correlation between the RI and beta-band CMC. Finally, a higher RI increase during lengthening contractions compared to either isometric or shortening ones was correlated with a larger decrease in CMC. Collectively, these novel findings provide robust evidence that the RI acts as a neural "filter" that contributes to the modulation of corticomuscular interactions between contraction types, possibly by disrupting the oscillatory muscle activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorian Glories
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Julien Duclay
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
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9
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Cartier T, Rao G, Viehweger E, Vigouroux L. Evolution of muscle coordination and mechanical output following four weeks of arm cranking submaximal training. J Neurophysiol 2023; 129:541-551. [PMID: 36695521 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00425.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Muscle synergies is extensively studied to understand how the neuromusculoskeletal system deals with abundancy. The synergies represent covariant muscles that acts as building blocks for movement production. Nevertheless, little is known on how those synergies evolve following training, learning and expertise. This study reports the influence a 4-weeks submaximal training of arm-cranking on novice participants' muscle synergies. METHODS 12 participants performed 8 sessions of submaximal training for 4 weeks. One session consisted in two 30-second-maximal power tests followed by six 2-minutes-bouts at 30% of maximal recorded power. Cranking torque and EMG of 11 muscles were recorded during the entire protocol. After EMG normalization, muscle synergies were extracted using NNMF. Similarity was computed using cross-correlation and cosine similarities and statistical evolution across training was tested using repeated measured ANOVA. RESULTS While maximal power increased across training days nor torque management, EMG or muscle synergies were significantly affected by submaximal training. Nevertheless, results suggest slights modifications of muscle synergies across day despite to non-significant differences. DISCUSSION Despite the strong complexity of the upper limbs anatomy, our results showed that training didn't induce significant changes in movement realization (mechanical and coordination level). A low-dimensional organization of muscle synergies is selected from the first day and kept through the following training days, despite slight but non-significant modifications.This study supports the hypothesis that motor control for movement production could be simplify using low-dimensional building blocks (muscle synergies). Such building blocks allow stability in movement execution and are slightly adjusted to fit movement requirements with training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Théo Cartier
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, ISM, Marseille, France
| | | | - Elke Viehweger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Allschwil, Switzerland
- Department of Orthopedics and Gait Laboratory, University Children's Hospital of Both Basel (UKBB), Basel, Switzerland
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10
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Jie LJ, Kal E, Ellmers TJ, Rosier J, Meijer K, Boonstra TW. The Effects of Conscious Movement Processing on the Neuromuscular Control of Posture. Neuroscience 2023; 509:63-73. [PMID: 36403689 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Maintaining balance is thought to primarily occur sub-consciously. Occasionally, however, individuals will direct conscious attention towards balance, e.g., in response to a threat to balance. Such conscious movement processing (CMP) increases the reliance on attentional resources and may disrupt balance performance. However, the underlying changes in neuromuscular control remain poorly understood. We investigated the effects of CMP (manipulated using verbal instructions) on neural control of posture in twenty-five adults (11 females, mean age = 23.9, range = 18-33). Participants performed 90-s, bipedal stance balance trials in high- and low-CMP conditions, during both stable (solid surface) and unstable (foam) task conditions. Postural sway amplitude, frequency and complexity were used to assess postural control. Surface EMG was recorded bilaterally from lower leg muscles (Soleus, Tibialis Anterior, Gastrocnemius Medialis, Peroneus Longus) and intermuscular coherence (IMC) was assessed for 12 muscle pairs across four frequency bands. We observed significantly increased sway amplitude, and decreased sway frequency and complexity in the high- compared to the low-CMP conditions. All sway variables increased in the unstable compared to the stable conditions. We observed reduced beta band IMC between several muscle pairs during high- compared to low-CMP, but these findings did not remain significant after controlling for multiple comparisons. Finally, IMC significantly increased in the unstable conditions for most muscle combinations and frequency bands. In all, results tentatively suggest that CMP-induced changes in sway outcomes may be facilitated by reduced beta-band IMC, but these findings need to be replicated before they can be interpreted more conclusively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Juan Jie
- Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, the Netherlands; Research Centre for Nutrition, Lifestyle and Exercise, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands.
| | - Elmar Kal
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, UK; Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, Brunel University London, UK
| | - Toby J Ellmers
- Centre for Vestibular Neurology, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Joëlle Rosier
- Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
| | - Kenneth Meijer
- Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd W Boonstra
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, the Netherlands
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11
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Marin-Pardo O, Donnelly MR, Phanord CS, Wong K, Pan J, Liew SL. Functional and neuromuscular changes induced via a low-cost, muscle-computer interface for telerehabilitation: A feasibility study in chronic stroke. FRONTIERS IN NEUROERGONOMICS 2022; 3:1046695. [PMID: 38235476 PMCID: PMC10790881 DOI: 10.3389/fnrgo.2022.1046695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. High doses of repeated task-specific practice have shown promising results in restoring upper limb function in chronic stroke. However, it is currently challenging to provide such doses in clinical practice. At-home telerehabilitation supervised by a clinician is a potential solution to provide higher-dose interventions. However, telerehabilitation systems developed for repeated task-specific practice typically require a minimum level of active movement. Therefore, severely impaired people necessitate alternative therapeutic approaches. Measurement and feedback of electrical muscle activity via electromyography (EMG) have been previously implemented in the presence of minimal or no volitional movement to improve motor performance in people with stroke. Specifically, muscle neurofeedback training to reduce unintended co-contractions of the impaired hand may be a targeted intervention to improve motor control in severely impaired populations. Here, we present the preliminary results of a low-cost, portable EMG biofeedback system (Tele-REINVENT) for supervised and unsupervised upper limb telerehabilitation after stroke. We aimed to explore the feasibility of providing higher doses of repeated task-specific practice during at-home training. Therefore, we recruited 5 participants (age = 44-73 years) with chronic, severe impairment due to stroke (Fugl-Meyer = 19-40/66). They completed a 6-week home-based training program that reinforced activity of the wrist extensor muscles while avoiding coactivation of flexor muscles via computer games. We used EMG signals to quantify the contribution of two antagonistic muscles and provide biofeedback of individuated activity, defined as a ratio of extensor and flexor activity during movement attempt. Our data suggest that 30 1-h sessions over 6 weeks of at-home training with our Tele-REINVENT system is feasible and may improve individuated muscle activity as well as scores on standard clinical assessments (e.g., Fugl-Meyer Assessment, Action Research Arm Test, active wrist range of motion) for some individuals. Furthermore, tests of neuromuscular control suggest modest changes in the synchronization of electroencephalography (EEG) and EMG signals within the beta band (12-30 Hz). Finally, all participants showed high adherence to the training protocol and reported enjoying using the system. These preliminary results suggest that using low-cost technology for home-based telerehabilitation after severe chronic stroke is feasible and may be effective in improving motor control via feedback of individuated muscle activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio Marin-Pardo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Miranda Rennie Donnelly
- Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Coralie S. Phanord
- Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kira Wong
- Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jessica Pan
- Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sook-Lei Liew
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Stevens Neuroinformatics Institute, Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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12
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Delcamp C, Cormier C, Chalard A, Amarantini D, Gasq D. Changes in intermuscular connectivity during active elbow extension reveal a functional simplification of motor control after stroke. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:940907. [PMID: 36278013 PMCID: PMC9583396 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.940907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Stroke alters muscle co-activation and notably leads to exaggerated antagonist co-contraction responsible for impaired motor function. However, the mechanisms underlying this exaggerated antagonist co-contraction remain unclear. To fill this gap, the analysis of oscillatory synchronicity in electromyographic signals from synergistic muscles, also called intermuscular coherence, was a relevant tool. Objective This study compares functional intermuscular connectivity between muscle pairs of the paretic and non-paretic upper limbs of stroke subjects and the dominant limb of control subjects, concomitantly between two muscle pairs with a different functional role, through an intermuscular coherence analysis. Methods Twenty-four chronic stroke subjects and twenty-four healthy control subjects were included. Subjects performed twenty elbow extensions while kinematic data and electromyographic activity of both flexor and extensor elbow muscles were recorded. Intermuscular coherence was analyzed in the beta frequency band compared to the assessment of antagonist co-contraction. Results Intermuscular coherence was higher in the stroke subjects’ paretic limbs compared to control subjects. For stroke subjects, the intermuscular coherence of the antagonist-antagonist muscle pair (biceps brachii—brachioradialis) was higher than that of the agonist-antagonist muscle pair (triceps brachii—brachioradialis). For the paretic limb, intermuscular coherence of the antagonist-antagonist muscle pair presented a negative relationship with antagonist co-contraction. Conclusion Differences in intermuscular coherence between the paretic limbs of stroke subjects and control subjects suggest a higher common central drive during movement. Furthermore, results highlight the association between stroke-related alteration of intermuscular functional connectivity and the alteration of motor function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia Delcamp
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Camille Cormier
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France
- Department of Functional Physiological Explorations, University Hospital of Toulouse, Hôpital de Rangueil, Toulouse, France
| | - Alexandre Chalard
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- California Rehabilitation Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - David Amarantini
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France
- *Correspondence: David Amarantini,
| | - David Gasq
- Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France
- Department of Functional Physiological Explorations, University Hospital of Toulouse, Hôpital de Rangueil, Toulouse, France
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13
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O'Keeffe R, Shirazi SY, Bilaloglu S, Jahed S, Bighamian R, Raghavan P, Atashzar SF. Nonlinear functional muscle network based on information theory tracks sensorimotor integration post stroke. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13029. [PMID: 35906239 PMCID: PMC9338017 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16483-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Sensory information is critical for motor coordination. However, understanding sensorimotor integration is complicated, especially in individuals with impairment due to injury to the central nervous system. This research presents a novel functional biomarker, based on a nonlinear network graph of muscle connectivity, called InfoMuNet, to quantify the role of sensory information on motor performance. Thirty-two individuals with post-stroke hemiparesis performed a grasp-and-lift task, while their muscle activity from 8 muscles in each arm was measured using surface electromyography. Subjects performed the task with their affected hand before and after sensory exposure to the task performed with the less-affected hand. For the first time, this work shows that InfoMuNet robustly quantifies changes in functional muscle connectivity in the affected hand after exposure to sensory information from the less-affected side. > 90% of the subjects conformed with the improvement resulting from this sensory exposure. InfoMuNet also shows high sensitivity to tactile, kinesthetic, and visual input alterations at the subject level, highlighting its potential use in precision rehabilitation interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory O'Keeffe
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seyed Yahya Shirazi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Seda Bilaloglu
- Department of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shayan Jahed
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ramin Bighamian
- Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Preeti Raghavan
- Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - S Farokh Atashzar
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
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14
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Lapenta OM, Keller PE, Nozaradan S, Varlet M. Lateralised dynamic modulations of corticomuscular coherence associated with bimanual learning of rhythmic patterns. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6271. [PMID: 35428836 PMCID: PMC9012795 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10342-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Human movements are spontaneously attracted to auditory rhythms, triggering an automatic activation of the motor system, a central phenomenon to music perception and production. Cortico-muscular coherence (CMC) in the theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequencies has been used as an index of the synchronisation between cortical motor regions and the muscles. Here we investigated how learning to produce a bimanual rhythmic pattern composed of low- and high-pitch sounds affects CMC in the beta frequency band. Electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) from the left and right First Dorsal Interosseus and Flexor Digitorum Superficialis muscles were concurrently recorded during constant pressure on a force sensor held between the thumb and index finger while listening to the rhythmic pattern before and after a bimanual training session. During the training, participants learnt to produce the rhythmic pattern guided by visual cues by pressing the force sensors with their left or right hand to produce the low- and high-pitch sounds, respectively. Results revealed no changes after training in overall beta CMC or beta oscillation amplitude, nor in the correlation between the left and right sides for EEG and EMG separately. However, correlation analyses indicated that left- and right-hand beta EEG-EMG coherence were positively correlated over time before training but became uncorrelated after training. This suggests that learning to bimanually produce a rhythmic musical pattern reinforces lateralised and segregated cortico-muscular communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Morgan Lapenta
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia. .,Center for Investigation in Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Peter E Keller
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Sylvie Nozaradan
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia.,Institute of Neuroscience, Catholic University of Louvain, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Manuel Varlet
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia.,School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
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15
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Eisen A, Lemon R. The motor deficit of ALS reflects failure to generate muscle synergies for complex motor tasks, not just muscle strength. Neurosci Lett 2021; 762:136171. [PMID: 34391870 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Customarily the motor deficits that develop in ALS are considered in terms of muscle weakness. Functional rating scales used to assess ALS in terms of functional decline do not measure the deficits when performing complex motor tasks, that make up the human skilled motor repertoire, best exemplified by tasks requiring skilled hand and finger movement. This repertoire depends primarily upon the strength of direct corticomotoneuronal (CM) connectivity from primary motor cortex to the motor units subserving skilled movements. Our review prompts the question: if accumulating evidence suggests involvement of the CM system in the early stages of ALS, what kinds of motor deficit might be expected to result, and is current methodology able to identify such deficits? We point out that the CM system is organized not in "commands" to individual muscles, but rather encodes the building blocks of complex and intricate movements, which depend upon synergy between not only the prime mover muscles, but other muscles that stabilize the limb during skilled movement. Our knowledge of the functional organization of the CM system has come both from invasive studies in non-human primates and from advanced imaging and neurophysiological techniques in humans, some of which are now being applied in ALS. CM pathology in ALS has consequences not only for muscle strength, but importantly in the failure to generate complex motor tasks, often involving elaborate muscle synergies. Our aim is to encourage innovative methodology specifically directed to assessing complex motor tasks, failure of which is likely a very early clinical deficit in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Eisen
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Roger Lemon
- Department of Clinical and Motor Neurosciences, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
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16
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Tian N, Chen Y, Sun W, Liu H, Wang X, Yan T, Song R. Investigating the Stroke- and Aging-Related Changes in Global and Instantaneous Intermuscular Coupling Using Cross-Fuzzy Entropy. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2021; 29:1573-1582. [PMID: 34329167 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2021.3101615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Intermuscular coupling is essential in the coordination of agonist and antagonist muscles. However, its dynamic characteristics are not fully understood, especially the alterations of intermuscular coupling induced by stroke and aging. This study aimed to investigate the aging- and stroke-related changes in the global and instantaneous intermuscular coupling between agonist and antagonist muscles. In the experiment, 8 patients after stroke, 18 healthy young subjects and 10 healthy middle-aged subjects were recruited and instructed to finish the elbow flexion and extension tasks. Cross-fuzzy entropy (C-FuzzyEn) and instantaneous C-FuzzyEn ( [Formula: see text]-FuzzyEn) based on a sliding window were used to analyze the global and instantaneous intermuscular coupling, respectively. Instantaneous FuzzyEn ( i -FuzzyEn) based on a sliding window was also applied to investigate the dynamic complexity of the EMG segment. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that i -FuzzyEn values were negatively correlated with [Formula: see text]-FuzzyEn values in most cases, which implied that there was a positive correlation between EMG complexity and intermuscular coupling. The C-FuzzyEn values between agonist and antagonist muscles increased significantly in both tasks of the patients after stroke than those of the healthy subjects (p < 0.05), which might be due to the decrease in intermuscular coupling induced by the damage of the corticospinal pathways after stroke. The combined application of C-FuzzyEn, [Formula: see text]-FuzzyEn and i -FuzzyEn provides a more comprehensive understanding of the global and instantaneous intermuscular coupling.
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17
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Varlet M, Nozaradan S, Trainor L, Keller PE. Dynamic Modulation of Beta Band Cortico-Muscular Coupling Induced by Audio-Visual Rhythms. Cereb Cortex Commun 2021; 1:tgaa043. [PMID: 34296112 PMCID: PMC8263089 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgaa043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human movements often spontaneously fall into synchrony with auditory and visual environmental rhythms. Related behavioral studies have shown that motor responses are automatically and unintentionally coupled with external rhythmic stimuli. However, the neurophysiological processes underlying such motor entrainment remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated with electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) the modulation of neural and muscular activity induced by periodic audio and/or visual sequences. The sequences were presented at either 1 or 2 Hz, while participants maintained constant finger pressure on a force sensor. The results revealed that although there was no change of amplitude in participants' EMG in response to the sequences, the synchronization between EMG and EEG recorded over motor areas in the beta (12-40 Hz) frequency band was dynamically modulated, with maximal coherence occurring about 100 ms before each stimulus. These modulations in beta EEG-EMG motor coherence were found for the 2-Hz audio-visual sequences, confirming at a neurophysiological level the enhancement of motor entrainment with multimodal rhythms that fall within preferred perceptual and movement frequency ranges. Our findings identify beta band cortico-muscular coupling as a potential underlying mechanism of motor entrainment, further elucidating the nature of the link between sensory and motor systems in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Varlet
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Sylvie Nozaradan
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
| | - Laurel Trainor
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter E Keller
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
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18
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The Changes of Motor Control Strategies in Non-specific Chronic Low Back Pain During Spinal Manipulation and Muscle Energy Techniques: A Beta-band Intermuscular Pair-Wise Coherence Analysis. ARCHIVES OF NEUROSCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.5812/ans.112262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: Until now, a variety of techniques have been introduced to address the adverse effects of NS-CLBP, including spinal manipulation technique (SMT) and muscle energy technique (MET). However, most of these techniques have focused on pain assessment and disability. In other words, the intermuscular synchronization between the co-contracting muscles was not considered, and hence, the effectiveness of these techniques on the corticospinal tract function was not studied. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of SMT and MET on corticospinal tract function during four phases of standing, flexion, relaxation, and extension in flexion-extension task (F-ET) in NS-CLBP using pair-wise coherence of Beta-band intermuscular coherence (Bb-IMC). Methods: Twenty volunteer healthy male subjects and twenty-four male subjects with NS-CLBP (20 - 45 years of age) participated in this work. The patients had continuous or recurrent symptoms for three months or more without any referral pain to the lower extremities. The patients were randomly assigned to two equal intervention groups (SMT and MET), and the techniques were applied as described by Greenman. Surface electromyography (sEMGs) from lumbopelvic muscles was recorded for all participants (i.e., healthy group and the patient groups), while they performed three trials of F-ET, and the pair-wise coherence for all muscles was calculated using Bb-IMC analysis. Besides, in the patient's groups, sEMGs from the muscles were recorded before and after the interventional techniques (i.e., SMT and MET), while they performed three trials of F-ET, and the pair-wise coherence was calculated. Multivariate analysis of variance test was used to compare the healthy subjects and patient groups before the interventions in A and B muscle cross at different phases of F-ET task. Furthermore, in the NS-CLBP patients, comparisons were made before and after the interventions in each group (i.e., SMT and MET groups) as well as between the two groups in A and B muscle cross at different phases of the F-ET task. Results: In the standing phase of F-ET, there were no significant differences in the SMT and MET group before and after the intervention in PWC of A muscle cross and B muscle cross (P < 0.05). Considering the flexion phase, there were significant differences in the SMT group in all pair muscles as PWC (M1-M4), PWE (M1-M6), PWC (M4-M6) (P < 0.05), whereas there was one significantly in PWC (M4-M6) in the MET group (P < 0.05). In the relaxation phase, the SMT had significantly in PWC (M2-M5), whereas there was one significantly in PWC (M4-M6) in MET group (P < 0.05). In the extension phase, although the SMT was not significant (P < 0.05) in the MET intervention group, there were significant differences in the PWC (M2-M3) and PWC muscles (M2-M5). Conclusions: This study provided some pieces of evidence about the effects of one of the common manual therapy techniques on the primary motor cortex and corticospinal drive in the NS-CLBP patients. The results showed that, by increasing the pair-wise coherence in all phases of FE-T, SMT intervention was more effective than MET intervention. Therefore, the pair-wise coherence of Bb-IMC can be considered an approach for clinicians when designing the rehabilitation protocol to ensure optimal treatment.
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19
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Laine CM, Cohn BA, Valero-Cuevas FJ. Temporal control of muscle synergies is linked with alpha-band neural drive. J Physiol 2021; 599:3385-3402. [PMID: 33963545 DOI: 10.1113/jp281232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS It is theorized that the nervous system controls groups of muscles together as functional units, or 'synergies', resulting in correlated electromyographic (EMG) signals among muscles. However, such correlation does not necessarily imply group-level neural control. Oscillatory synchronization (coherence) among EMG signals implies neural coupling, but it is not clear how this relates to control of muscle synergies. EMG was recorded from seven arm muscles of 10 adult participants rotating an upper limb ergometer, and EMG-EMG coherence, EMG amplitude correlations and their relationship with each other were characterized. A novel method to derive multi-muscle synergies from EMG-EMG coherence is presented and these are compared with classically defined synergies. Coherent alpha-band (8-16 Hz) drive was strongest among muscles whose gross activity levels are well correlated within a given task. The cross-muscle distribution and temporal modulation of coherent alpha-band drive suggests a possible role in the neural coordination/monitoring of synergies. ABSTRACT During movement, groups of muscles may be controlled together by the nervous system as an adaptable functional entity, or 'synergy'. The rules governing when (or if) this occurs during voluntary behaviour in humans are not well understood, at least in part because synergies are usually defined by correlated patterns of muscle activity without regard for the underlying structure of their neural control. In this study, we investigated the extent to which comodulation of muscle output (i.e. correlation of electromyographic (EMG) amplitudes) implies that muscles share intermuscular neural input (assessed via EMG-EMG coherence analysis). We first examined this relationship among pairs of upper limb muscles engaged in an arm cycling task. We then applied a novel multidimensional EMG-EMG coherence analysis allowing synergies to be characterized on the basis of shared neural drive. We found that alpha-band coherence (8-16 Hz) is related to the degree to which overall muscle activity levels correlate over time. The extension of this coherence analysis to describe the cross-muscle distribution and temporal modulation of alpha-band drive revealed a close match to the temporal and structural features of traditionally defined muscle synergies. Interestingly, the coherence-derived neural drive was inversely associated with, and preceded, changes in EMG amplitudes by ∼200 ms. Our novel characterization of how alpha-band neural drive is dynamically distributed among muscles is a fundamental step forward in understanding the neural origins and correlates of muscle synergies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Laine
- Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brian A Cohn
- Department of Computer Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Francisco J Valero-Cuevas
- Department of Computer Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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20
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Houston M, Li X, Zhou P, Li S, Roh J, Zhang Y. Alterations in Muscle Networks in the Upper Extremity of Chronic Stroke Survivors. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2021; 29:1026-1034. [PMID: 33900919 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2021.3075907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Muscle networks describe the functional connectivity between muscles quantified through the decomposition of intermuscular coherence (IMC) to identify shared frequencies at which certain muscles are co-modulated by common neural input. Efforts have been devoted to characterizing muscle networks in healthy subjects but stroke-linked alterations to muscle networks remain unexplored. Muscle networks were assessed for eight key upper extremity muscles during isometric force generation in stroke survivors with mild, moderate, and severe impairment and compared against healthy controls to identify stroke-specificalterations in muscle connectivity. Coherence matrices were decomposed using non-negative matrix factorization. The variance accounted for thresholding was then assessed to identify the number of muscle networks. Results showed that the number of muscle networks decreased in stroke survivors compared to age-matched healthy controls (four networks in the healthy control group) as the severity of post-stroke motor impairment increased (three in the mild- and two in the moderate- and severe-strokegroups). Statistically significant reductions of IMC in the synergistic deltoid muscles in the alpha-band in stroke patients versus healthy controls ( p < 0.05) were identified. This study represents the first effort, to the best of our knowledge, to assess stroke-linked alterations in functional intermuscular connectivity using muscle network analysis. The findings revealed a pattern of alterations to muscle networks in stroke survivors compared to healthy controls, as a result of the loss of brain function associated with the stroke. These alterations in muscle networks reflected underlying pathophysiology. These findings can help better understand the motor impairment and motor control in stroke and may advance rehabilitation efforts for stroke by identifying the impaired neuromuscular coordination among multiple muscles in the frequency domain.
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21
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Glories D, Soulhol M, Amarantini D, Duclay J. Specific modulation of corticomuscular coherence during submaximal voluntary isometric, shortening and lengthening contractions. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6322. [PMID: 33737659 PMCID: PMC7973785 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85851-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
During voluntary contractions, corticomuscular coherence (CMC) is thought to reflect a mutual interaction between cortical and muscle oscillatory activities, respectively measured by electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG). However, it remains unclear whether CMC modulation would depend on the contribution of neural mechanisms acting at the spinal level. To this purpose, modulations of CMC were compared during submaximal isometric, shortening and lengthening contractions of the soleus (SOL) and the medial gastrocnemius (MG) with a concurrent analysis of changes in spinal excitability that may be reduced during lengthening contractions. Submaximal contractions intensity was set at 50% of the maximal SOL EMG activity. CMC was computed in the time-frequency domain between the Cz EEG electrode signal and the unrectified SOL or MG EMG signal. Spinal excitability was quantified through normalized Hoffmann (H) reflex amplitude. The results indicate that beta-band CMC and normalized H-reflex were significantly lower in SOL during lengthening compared with isometric contractions, but were similar in MG for all three muscle contraction types. Collectively, these results highlight an effect of contraction type on beta-band CMC, although it may differ between agonist synergist muscles. These novel findings also provide new evidence that beta-band CMC modulation may involve spinal regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorian Glories
- grid.15781.3a0000 0001 0723 035XToNIC, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France ,grid.15781.3a0000 0001 0723 035XFaculty of Sport Science, University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Mathias Soulhol
- grid.15781.3a0000 0001 0723 035XToNIC, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France ,grid.15781.3a0000 0001 0723 035XFaculty of Sport Science, University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - David Amarantini
- grid.15781.3a0000 0001 0723 035XToNIC, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France ,grid.15781.3a0000 0001 0723 035XFaculty of Sport Science, University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Julien Duclay
- grid.15781.3a0000 0001 0723 035XToNIC, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, Toulouse, France ,grid.15781.3a0000 0001 0723 035XFaculty of Sport Science, University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
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22
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Comparison of the Beta-Band Intermuscular Pool Coherence Between Chronic Non-specific Low Back Pain and Healthy Subjects. ARCHIVES OF NEUROSCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.5812/ans.110247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: The current study aimed to compare between the chronic non-specific low back pain (CNSLBP) and healthy subjects during four phases of the trunk flexion-extension task (standing, flexion, relaxation, and extension phases) by using pool coherence as well as pairwise coherence of Beta band Intermuscular coherence (Bb-IMC) and flexion relaxation phenomena. Methods: Twenty-four men with CNSLBP and 20 healthy men voluntarily participated in this study. All subjects performed three tests of Flexion-extension task (F-ET) while the surface electromyography (sEMGs) were recorded from the right erector spinal muscle of the lumbar region “1”, left erector spinal muscle of the lumbar region “2”, right gluteus maximus muscle”3”, left gluteus maximus muscle”4”, right hamstring muscle”5” and left hamstring muscle”6”. Accordingly, group A contains muscles 1, 4, and 6 and group B consists of muscles 2, 3, and 5. The pool coherence (PC) and the pairwise coherence (PWC) for all the above-mentioned muscles were calculated using Beta-band intermuscular coherence analysis. Thereafter, the mean pool coherence (mPC) was considered for group A and group B for four phases of F-ET in three groups as following: CNSLBP patients group, healthy subjects group and the third group included all subjects that participated in this study, whether patients or healthy and it was called the general group. Moreover, the mean pairwise coherence (mPWC) among each pair of group A and B muscles was calculated for four phases of F-ET using Bb-IMC in CNSLBP patients and healthy subjects. Results: These results indicated a high value of A mPC in the general group and healthy subjects in the flexion phase, whereas the same A mPC in CNSLBP patients was high in all phases of F-ET. On the other hand, while B mPC was high in the general group and healthy subjects in the extension phase; it was high in all phases of F-ET in CNSLBP patients; B mPC in CNSLBP patients was high in extension, standing, and flexion phases. A mPWC and B mPWC were not significantly different between CNSLBP patients and healthy subjects in all phases of F-ET. However, only A mPWC “1 - 4” and the A mPWC “4 - 6” were significantly smaller in CNSLBP patients compared to the healthy subjects in the relaxation and flexion phases, respectively. Hence, we suggest pool coherence of Bb-IMC, not pairwise coherence of Bb-IMC, to compare CNSLBP patients and healthy subjects. Conclusions: According to the present findings, we suggest using the pool coherence of Bb-IMC in the clinical examination for CNSLBP patients and studying the probable cortical effects and the effectiveness of various treatments on corticospinal tract function in CNSLBP.
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Gennaro F, de Bruin ED. A pilot study assessing reliability and age-related differences in corticomuscular and intramuscular coherence in ankle dorsiflexors during walking. Physiol Rep 2021; 8:e14378. [PMID: 32109345 PMCID: PMC7048377 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.14378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticomuscular (CMC) and intramuscular (intraMC) coherence represent measures of corticospinal interaction. Both CMC and intraMC can be assessed during human locomotion tasks, for example, while walking. Corticospinal control of gait can deteriorate during the aging process and CMC and intraMC may represent an important monitoring means. However, it is unclear whether such assessments represent a reliable tool when performed during walking in an ecologically valid scenario and whether age‐related differences may occur. Wireless surface electroencephalography and electromyography were employed in a pilot study with young and old adults during overground walking in two separate sessions. CMC and intraMC analyses were performed in the gathered beta and lower gamma frequencies (i.e., 13–40 Hz). Significant log‐transformed coherence area was tested for intersessions test–retest reliability by determining intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), yielding to low reliability in CMC in both younger and older adults. intraMC exclusively showed low reliability in the older adults, whereas intraMC in the younger adults revealed similar values as previously reported: test–retest reliability [ICC (95% CI): 0.44 (−0.23, 0.87); SEM: 0.46; MDC: 1.28; MDC%: 103; Hedge's g (95% CI): 0.54 (−0.13, 1.57)]. Significant differences between the age groups were observed in intraMC by either comparing the two groups with the first test [Hedge's g (95% CI): 1.55 (0.85, 2.15); p‐value: .006] or with the retest data [Hedge's g (95% CI): 2.24 (0.73, 3.70); p‐value: .005]. Notwithstanding the small sample size investigated, intraMC seems a moderately reliable assessment in younger adults. The further development and use of this measure in practical settings to infer corticospinal interaction in human locomotion in clinical practice is warranted and should help to refine the analysis. This necessitates involving larger sample sizes as well as including a wider number of lower limb muscles. Moreover, further research seems warranted by the observed differences in modulation mechanisms of corticospinal control of gait as ascertained by intraMC between the age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Gennaro
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eling D de Bruin
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Division of Physiotherapy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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24
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Coffey A, Bista S, Fasano A, Buxo T, Mitchell M, Giglia ER, Dukic S, Fenech M, Barry M, Wade A, Heverin M, Muthuraman M, Carson RG, Lowery M, Hardiman O, Nasseroleslami B. Altered supraspinal motor networks in survivors of poliomyelitis: A cortico-muscular coherence study. Clin Neurophysiol 2020; 132:106-113. [PMID: 33271481 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2020.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Poliomyelitis results in changes to the anterior horn cell. The full extent of cortical network changes in the motor physiology of polio survivors has not been established. Our aim was to investigate how focal degeneration of the lower motor neurons (LMN) in infancy/childhood affects motor network connectivity in adult survivors of polio. METHODS Surface electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) were recorded during an isometric pincer grip task in 25 patients and 11 healthy controls. Spectral signal analysis of cortico-muscular (EEG-EMG) coherence (CMC) was used to identify the cortical regions that are functionally synchronous and connected to the periphery during the pincer grip task. RESULTS A pattern of CMC was noted in polio survivors that was not present in healthy individuals. Significant CMC in low gamma frequency bands (30-47 Hz) was observed in frontal and parietal regions. CONCLUSION These findings imply a differential engagement of cortical networks in polio survivors that extends beyond the motor cortex and suggest a disease-related functional reorganisation of the cortical motor network. SIGNIFICANCE This research has implications for other similar LMN conditions, including spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). CMC has potential in future clinical trials as a biomarker of altered function in motor networks in post-polio syndrome, SMA, and other related conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina Coffey
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Saroj Bista
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Antonio Fasano
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland
| | - Teresa Buxo
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Matthew Mitchell
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Eileen Rose Giglia
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Stefan Dukic
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland; Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Utrecht Brain Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Matthew Fenech
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Megan Barry
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Andrew Wade
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland
| | - Mark Heverin
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Muthuraman Muthuraman
- Section of Movement disorders and Neurostimulation, Biomedical Statistics and Multimodal Signal Processing Unit, Department of Neurology, Johannes-Gutenberg-University Hospital, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Richard G Carson
- Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience and School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, Ireland; School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - Madeleine Lowery
- School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland; Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin 9, Ireland.
| | - Bahman Nasseroleslami
- Academic Unit of Neurology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Ireland.
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25
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Watanabe T, Nojima I, Mima T, Sugiura H, Kirimoto H. Magnification of visual feedback modulates corticomuscular and intermuscular coherences differently in young and elderly adults. Neuroimage 2020; 220:117089. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
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26
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Kenville R, Maudrich T, Vidaurre C, Maudrich D, Villringer A, Ragert P, Nikulin VV. Intermuscular coherence between homologous muscles during dynamic and static movement periods of bipedal squatting. J Neurophysiol 2020; 124:1045-1055. [PMID: 32816612 PMCID: PMC7742219 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00231.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Coordination of functionally coupled muscles is a key aspect of movement execution. Demands on coordinative control increase with the number of involved muscles and joints, as well as with differing movement periods within a given motor sequence. While previous research has provided evidence concerning inter- and intramuscular synchrony in isolated movements, compound movements remain largely unexplored. With this study, we aimed to uncover neural mechanisms of bilateral coordination through intermuscular coherence (IMC) analyses between principal homologous muscles during bipedal squatting (BpS) at multiple frequency bands (alpha, beta, and gamma). For this purpose, participants performed bipedal squats without additional load, which were divided into three distinct movement periods (eccentric, isometric, and concentric). Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from four homologous muscle pairs representing prime movers during bipedal squatting. We provide novel evidence that IMC magnitudes differ between movement periods in beta and gamma bands, as well as between homologous muscle pairs across all frequency bands. IMC was greater in the muscle pairs involved in postural and bipedal stability compared with those involved in muscular force during BpS. Furthermore, beta and gamma IMC magnitudes were highest during eccentric movement periods, whereas we did not find movement-related modulations for alpha IMC magnitudes. This finding thus indicates increased integration of afferent information during eccentric movement periods. Collectively, our results shed light on intermuscular synchronization during bipedal squatting, as we provide evidence that central nervous processing of bilateral intermuscular functioning is achieved through task-dependent modulations of common neural input to homologous muscles. NEW & NOTEWORTHY It is largely unexplored how the central nervous system achieves coordination of homologous muscles of the upper and lower body within a compound whole body movement, and to what extent this neural drive is modulated between different movement periods and muscles. Using intermuscular coherence analysis, we show that homologous muscle functions are mediated through common oscillatory input that extends over alpha, beta, and gamma frequencies with different synchronization patterns at different movement periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rouven Kenville
- Institute for General Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Faculty of Sports Science, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tom Maudrich
- Institute for General Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Faculty of Sports Science, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Carmen Vidaurre
- Department of Statistics, Informatics and Mathematics, Public University of Navarre, Pamplona, Spain.,Machine Learning Group, Faculty of EE and Computer Science, TU Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis Maudrich
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Leipzig, Germany.,MindBrainBody Institute at Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany.,Clinic for Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Patrick Ragert
- Institute for General Kinesiology and Exercise Science, Faculty of Sports Science, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Vadim V Nikulin
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Department of Neurology, Leipzig, Germany.,Centre for Cognition and Decision Making, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russian Federation.,Neurophysics Group, Department of Neurology, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
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27
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Marin-Pardo O, Laine CM, Rennie M, Ito KL, Finley J, Liew SL. A Virtual Reality Muscle-Computer Interface for Neurorehabilitation in Chronic Stroke: A Pilot Study. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20133754. [PMID: 32635550 PMCID: PMC7374440 DOI: 10.3390/s20133754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Severe impairment of limb movement after stroke can be challenging to address in the chronic stage of stroke (e.g., greater than 6 months post stroke). Recent evidence suggests that physical therapy can still promote meaningful recovery after this stage, but the required high amount of therapy is difficult to deliver within the scope of standard clinical practice. Digital gaming technologies are now being combined with brain–computer interfaces to motivate engaging and frequent exercise and promote neural recovery. However, the complexity and expense of acquiring brain signals has held back widespread utilization of these rehabilitation systems. Furthermore, for people that have residual muscle activity, electromyography (EMG) might be a simpler and equally effective alternative. In this pilot study, we evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of an EMG-based variant of our REINVENT virtual reality (VR) neurofeedback rehabilitation system to increase volitional muscle activity while reducing unintended co-contractions. We recruited four participants in the chronic stage of stroke recovery, all with severely restricted active wrist movement. They completed seven 1-hour training sessions during which our head-mounted VR system reinforced activation of the wrist extensor muscles without flexor activation. Before and after training, participants underwent a battery of clinical and neuromuscular assessments. We found that training improved scores on standardized clinical assessments, equivalent to those previously reported for brain–computer interfaces. Additionally, training may have induced changes in corticospinal communication, as indexed by an increase in 12–30 Hz corticomuscular coherence and by an improved ability to maintain a constant level of wrist muscle activity. Our data support the feasibility of using muscle–computer interfaces in severe chronic stroke, as well as their potential to promote functional recovery and trigger neural plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio Marin-Pardo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (O.M.-P.); (J.F.)
| | - Christopher M. Laine
- Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (C.M.L.); (M.R.); (K.L.I.)
| | - Miranda Rennie
- Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (C.M.L.); (M.R.); (K.L.I.)
| | - Kaori L. Ito
- Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (C.M.L.); (M.R.); (K.L.I.)
| | - James Finley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (O.M.-P.); (J.F.)
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Sook-Lei Liew
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (O.M.-P.); (J.F.)
- Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; (C.M.L.); (M.R.); (K.L.I.)
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Correspondence:
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28
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Laine CM, Valero-Cuevas FJ. Parkinson's Disease Exhibits Amplified Intermuscular Coherence During Dynamic Voluntary Action. Front Neurol 2020; 11:204. [PMID: 32308641 PMCID: PMC7145888 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is typically diagnosed and evaluated on the basis of overt motor dysfunction, however, subtle changes in the frequency spectrum of neural drive to muscles have been reported as well. During dynamic actions, coactive muscles of healthy adults often share a common source of 6-15 Hz (alpha-band) neural drive, creating synchronous alpha-band activity in their EMG signals. Individuals with PD commonly exhibit kinetic action tremor at similar frequencies, but the potential relationship between the intermuscular alpha-band neural drive seen in healthy adults and the action tremor associated with PD is not well-understood. A close relationship is most tenable during voluntary dynamic tasks where alpha-band neural drive is strongest in healthy adults, and where neural circuits affected by PD are most engaged. In this study, we characterized the frequency spectrum of EMG synchronization (intermuscular coherence) in 16 participants with PD and 15 age-matched controls during two dynamic motor tasks: (1) rotation of a dial between the thumb and index finger, and (2) dynamic scaling of isometric precision pinch force. These tasks produce different profiles of coherence between the first dorsal interosseous and abductor pollicis brevis muscles. We sought to determine if alpha-band intermuscular coherence would be amplified in participants with PD relative to controls, if such differences would be task-specific, and if they would correlate with symptom severity. We found that relative to controls, the PD group displayed amplified, but similarly task-dependent, coherence in the alpha-band. The magnitude of coherence during the rotation task correlated with overall symptom severity as per the UPDRS rating scale. Finally, we explored the potential for our coherence measures, with no additional information, to discriminate individuals with PD from controls. The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUC) indicated a clear separation between groups (AUC = 0.96), even though participants with PD were on their typical medication and displayed only mild-moderate symptoms. We conclude that a task-dependent, intermuscular neural drive within the alpha-band is amplified in PD. Its quantification via intermuscular coherence analysis may provide a useful tool for detecting the presence of PD, or assessing its progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Laine
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Francisco J Valero-Cuevas
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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29
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Coupling between human brain activity and body movements: Insights from non-invasive electromagnetic recordings. Neuroimage 2019; 203:116177. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
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30
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Boonstra TW, Faes L, Kerkman JN, Marinazzo D. Information decomposition of multichannel EMG to map functional interactions in the distributed motor system. Neuroimage 2019; 202:116093. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
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31
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Naro A, Portaro S, Milardi D, Billeri L, Leo A, Militi D, Bramanti P, Calabrò RS. Paving the way for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of gait impairment in myotonic dystrophy: a pilot study focusing on muscle networks. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2019; 16:116. [PMID: 31533780 PMCID: PMC6751609 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-019-0590-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A proper rehabilitation program targeting gait is mandatory to maintain the quality of life of patients with Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Assuming that gait and balance impairment simply depend on the degree of muscle weakness is potentially misleading. In fact, the involvement of the Central Nervous System (CNS) in DM1 pathophysiology calls into account the deterioration of muscle coordination in gait impairment. Our study aimed at demonstrating the presence and role of muscle connectivity deterioration in patients with DM1 by a CNS perspective by investigating signal synergies using a time-frequency spectral coherence and multivariate analyses on lower limb muscles while walking upright. Further, we sought at determining whether muscle networks were abnormal secondarily to the muscle impairment or primarily to CNS damage (as DM1 is a multi-system disorder also involving the CNS). In other words, muscle network deterioration may depend on a weakening in signal synergies (that express the neural drive to muscles deduced from surface electromyography data). METHODS Such an innovative approach to estimate muscle networks and signal synergies was carried out in seven patients with DM1 and ten healthy controls (HC). RESULTS Patients with DM1 showed a commingling of low and high frequencies among muscle at both within- and between-limbs level, a weak direct neural coupling concerning inter-limb coordination, a modest network segregation, high integrative network properties, and an impoverishment in the available signal synergies, as compared to HCs. These network abnormalities were independent from muscle weakness and myotonia. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that gait impairment in patients with DM1 depends also on a muscle network deterioration that is secondary to signal synergy deterioration (related to CNS impairment). This suggests that muscle network deterioration may be a primary trait of DM1 rather than a maladaptive mechanism to muscle degeneration. This information may be useful concerning the implementation of proper rehabilitative strategies in patients with DM1. It will be indeed necessary not only addressing muscle weakness but also gait-related muscle connectivity to improve functional ambulation in such patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Naro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, via Palermo, SS 113, Ctr. Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Simona Portaro
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, via Palermo, SS 113, Ctr. Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Demetrio Milardi
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, via Palermo, SS 113, Ctr. Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Luana Billeri
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, via Palermo, SS 113, Ctr. Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Antonino Leo
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, via Palermo, SS 113, Ctr. Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | | | - Placido Bramanti
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, via Palermo, SS 113, Ctr. Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy
| | - Rocco Salvatore Calabrò
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo, via Palermo, SS 113, Ctr. Casazza, 98124 Messina, Italy
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32
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Spedden ME, Jensen P, Terkildsen CU, Jensen NJ, Halliday DM, Lundbye-Jensen J, Nielsen JB, Geertsen SS. The development of functional and directed corticomuscular connectivity during tonic ankle muscle contraction across childhood and adolescence. Neuroimage 2019; 191:350-360. [PMID: 30818025 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.02.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In adults, oscillatory activity in the sensorimotor cortex is coherent with contralateral muscle activity at beta frequencies (15-35 Hz) during tonic contraction. This functional coupling reflects the involvement of the sensorimotor cortex, the corticospinal pathway, and likely also ascending sensory feedback in the task at hand. However, little is known about the developmental trajectory of task-related corticomuscular connectivity relating to the voluntary control of the ankle muscles. To address this, we recorded electroencephalography (EEG) from the vertex (Cz) and electromyography (EMG) from ankle muscles (proximal and distal anterior tibial, TA; soleus, SOL; gastrocnemius medialis, GM) in 33 participants aged 7-23 yr during tonic dorsi- and plantar flexion requiring precise maintenance of a submaximal torque level. Coherence was calculated for Cz-TA, Cz-SOL, TA-TA, and SOL-GM signal pairs. We found strong, positive associations between age and beta band coherence for Cz-TA, Cz-SOL, and TA-TA, suggesting that oscillatory corticomuscular connectivity is strengthened during childhood development and adolescence. Directionality analysis indicated that the primary interaction underlying this age-related increase was in the descending direction. In addition, performance during dorsi- and plantar flexion tasks was positively associated with age, indicating more precise control of the ankle joint in older participants. Performance was also positively associated with beta band coherence, suggesting that participants with greater coherence also exhibited greater precision. We propose that these results indicate an age-related increase in oscillatory corticospinal input to the ankle muscle motoneuron pools during childhood development and adolescence, with possible implications for maturation of precision force control. Within the theoretical framework of predictive coding, we suggest that our results may reflect an age-related increase in reliance on feedforward control as the developing nervous system becomes better at predicting the sensory consequences of movement. These findings may contribute to the development of novel intervention strategies targeting improved sensorimotor control in children and adolescents with central motor disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Jensen
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - David M Halliday
- Department of Electronic Engineering, University of York, York, UK
| | - Jesper Lundbye-Jensen
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bo Nielsen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Elsass Institute, Charlottenlund, Denmark
| | - Svend Sparre Geertsen
- Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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33
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Aguiar SA, Baker SN, Gant K, Bohorquez J, Thomas CK. Spasms after spinal cord injury show low-frequency intermuscular coherence. J Neurophysiol 2018; 120:1765-1771. [PMID: 30067124 PMCID: PMC6230810 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00112.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Intermuscular coherence allows the investigation of common input to muscle groups. Although beta-band (15–30 Hz) intermuscular coherence is well understood as originating from the cortex, the source of intermuscular coherence at lower frequencies is still unclear. We used a wearable device that recorded electromyographic (EMG) signals during a 24-h period in four lower limb muscles of seven spinal cord injury patients (American Spinal Cord Injury Association impairment scale: A, 6 subjects; B, 1 subject) while they went about their normal daily life activities. We detected natural spasms occurring during these long-lasting recordings and calculated intermuscular coherence between all six possible combinations of muscle pairs. There was significant intermuscular coherence at low frequencies, between 2 and 13 Hz. The most likely source for this was the spinal cord and its peripheral feedback loops, because the spinal lesions in these patients had interrupted connections to supraspinal structures. This is the first report to demonstrate that the spinal cord is capable of producing low-frequency intermuscular coherence with severely reduced or abolished descending drive. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first report to demonstrate that intermuscular coherence between lower limb muscles at low frequencies can be produced by the spinal cord with severely reduced or abolished descending drive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefane A Aguiar
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University , Newcastle Upon Tyne , United Kingdom
| | - Stuart N Baker
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University , Newcastle Upon Tyne , United Kingdom
| | - Katie Gant
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine , Miami, Florida
| | - Jorge Bohorquez
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine , Miami, Florida.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine , Miami, Florida
| | - Christine K Thomas
- The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine , Miami, Florida.,Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine , Miami, Florida.,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine , Miami, Florida
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34
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Charissou C, Amarantini D, Baurès R, Berton E, Vigouroux L. Effects of hand configuration on muscle force coordination, co-contraction and concomitant intermuscular coupling during maximal isometric flexion of the fingers. Eur J Appl Physiol 2017; 117:2309-2320. [PMID: 28932987 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-017-3718-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The mechanisms governing the control of musculoskeletal redundancy remain to be fully understood. The hand is highly redundant, and shows different functional role of extensors according to its configuration for a same functional task of finger flexion. Through intermuscular coherence analysis combined with hand musculoskeletal modelling during maximal isometric hand contractions, our aim was to better understand the neural mechanisms underlying the control of muscle force coordination and agonist-antagonist co-contraction. METHODS Thirteen participants performed maximal isometric flexions of the fingers in two configurations: power grip (Power) and finger-pressing on a surface (Press). Hand kinematics and force/moment measurements were used as inputs in a musculoskeletal model of the hand to determine muscular tensions and co-contraction. EMG-EMG coherence analysis was performed between wrist and finger flexors and extensor muscle pairs in alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands. RESULTS Concomitantly with tailored muscle force coordination and increased co-contraction between Press and Power (mean difference: 48.08%; p < 0.05), our results showed muscle-pair-specific modulation of intermuscular coupling, characterized by pair-specific modulation of EMG-EMG coherence between Power and Press (p < 0.05), and a negative linear association between co-contraction and intermuscular coupling for the ECR/FCR agonist-antagonist muscle pair (r = - 0.65; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS This study brings new evidence that pair-specific modulation of EMG-EMG coherence is related to modulation of muscle force coordination during hand contractions. Our results highlight the functional importance of intermuscular coupling as a mechanism contributing to the control of muscle force synergies and agonist-antagonist co-contraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Charissou
- CNRS, ISM UMR 7287, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France. .,ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, INSERM, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France. .,Institut des Sciences du Mouvement-Etienne-Jules Marey, CP 910, 163 av. de Luminy, 13288, Marseille Cedex 9, France.
| | - David Amarantini
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Center, INSERM, UPS, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Robin Baurès
- CerCo, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Eric Berton
- CNRS, ISM UMR 7287, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
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35
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Effect of training status on beta-range corticomuscular coherence in agonist vs. antagonist muscles during isometric knee contractions. Exp Brain Res 2017; 235:3023-3031. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-017-5035-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/15/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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36
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Laine CM, Valero-Cuevas FJ. Intermuscular coherence reflects functional coordination. J Neurophysiol 2017; 118:1775-1783. [PMID: 28659460 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00204.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Coherence analysis has the ability to identify the presence of common descending drive shared by motor unit pools and reveals its spectral properties. However, the link between spectral properties of shared neural drive and functional interactions among muscles remains unclear. We assessed shared neural drive between muscles of the thumb and index finger while participants executed two mechanically distinct precision pinch tasks, each requiring distinct functional coordination among muscles. We found that shared neural drive was systematically reduced or enhanced at specific frequencies of interest (~10 and ~40 Hz). While amplitude correlations between surface EMG signals also exhibited changes across tasks, only their coherence has strong physiological underpinnings indicative of neural binding. Our results support the use of intermuscular coherence as a tool to detect when coactivated muscles are members of a functional group or synergy of neural origin. Furthermore, our results demonstrate the advantages of considering neural binding at 10, ~20, and >30 Hz, as indicators of task-dependent neural coordination strategies.NEW & NOTEWORTHY It is often unclear whether correlated activity among muscles reflects their neural binding or simply reflects the constraints defining the task. Using the fact that high-frequency coherence between EMG signals (>6 Hz) is thought to reflect shared neural drive, we demonstrate that coherence analysis can reveal the neural origin of distinct muscle coordination patterns required by different tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Laine
- Brain-Body Dynamics Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Francisco J Valero-Cuevas
- Brain-Body Dynamics Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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37
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Features of EEG Activity Related to Realization of Cyclic Unimanual and Bimanual Hand Movements in Humans. NEUROPHYSIOLOGY+ 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11062-017-9632-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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38
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Reyes A, Laine CM, Kutch JJ, Valero-Cuevas FJ. Beta Band Corticomuscular Drive Reflects Muscle Coordination Strategies. Front Comput Neurosci 2017; 11:17. [PMID: 28420975 PMCID: PMC5378725 DOI: 10.3389/fncom.2017.00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During force production, hand muscle activity is known to be coherent with activity in primary motor cortex, specifically in the beta-band (15–30 Hz) frequency range. It is not clear, however, if this coherence reflects the control strategy selected by the nervous system for a given task, or if it instead reflects an intrinsic property of cortico-spinal communication. Here, we measured corticomuscular and intermuscular coherence between muscles of index finger and thumb while a two-finger pinch grip of identical net force was applied to objects which were either stable (allowing synergistic activation of finger muscles) or unstable (requiring individuated finger control). We found that beta-band corticomuscular coherence with the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscles, as well as their beta-band coherence with each other, was significantly reduced when individuated control of the thumb and index finger was required. We interpret these findings to show that beta-band coherence is reflective of a synergistic control strategy in which the cortex binds task-related motor neurons into functional units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Reyes
- Brain-Body Dynamics Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher M Laine
- Brain-Body Dynamics Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jason J Kutch
- Applied Mathematical Physiology Lab, Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Francisco J Valero-Cuevas
- Brain-Body Dynamics Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, USA
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39
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Pizzamiglio S, De Lillo M, Naeem U, Abdalla H, Turner DL. High-Frequency Intermuscular Coherence between Arm Muscles during Robot-Mediated Motor Adaptation. Front Physiol 2017; 7:668. [PMID: 28119620 PMCID: PMC5220015 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptation of arm reaching in a novel force field involves co-contraction of upper limb muscles, but it is not known how the co-ordination of multiple muscle activation is orchestrated. We have used intermuscular coherence (IMC) to test whether a coherent intermuscular coupling between muscle pairs is responsible for novel patterns of activation during adaptation of reaching in a force field. Subjects (N = 16) performed reaching trials during a null force field, then during a velocity-dependent force field and then again during a null force field. Reaching trajectory error increased during early adaptation to the force-field and subsequently decreased during later adaptation. Co-contraction in the majority of all possible muscle pairs also increased during early adaptation and decreased during later adaptation. In contrast, IMC increased during later adaptation and only in a subset of muscle pairs. IMC consistently occurred in frequencies between ~40–100 Hz and during the period of arm movement, suggesting that a coherent intermuscular coupling between those muscles contributing to adaptation enable a reduction in wasteful co-contraction and energetic cost during reaching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Pizzamiglio
- Neuroplasticity and Neurorehabilitation Doctoral Training Programme, Neurorehabilitation Unit, School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East LondonLondon, UK; Department of Computer Science, School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, University of East LondonLondon, UK
| | - Martina De Lillo
- Neuroplasticity and Neurorehabilitation Doctoral Training Programme, Neurorehabilitation Unit, School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East London London, UK
| | - Usman Naeem
- Department of Computer Science, School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, University of East London London, UK
| | - Hassan Abdalla
- Department of Computer Science, School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering, University of East London London, UK
| | - Duncan L Turner
- Neuroplasticity and Neurorehabilitation Doctoral Training Programme, Neurorehabilitation Unit, School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, University of East LondonLondon, UK; University College London Partners Centre for NeurorehabilitationLondon, UK
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40
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Jalaleddini K, Minos Niu C, Chakravarthi Raja S, Joon Sohn W, Loeb GE, Sanger TD, Valero-Cuevas FJ. Neuromorphic meets neuromechanics, part II: the role of fusimotor drive. J Neural Eng 2017; 14:025002. [PMID: 28094764 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/aa59bd] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We studied the fundamentals of muscle afferentation by building a Neuro-mechano-morphic system actuating a cadaveric finger. This system is a faithful implementation of the stretch reflex circuitry. It allowed the systematic exploration of the effects of different fusimotor drives to the muscle spindle on the closed-loop stretch reflex response. APPROACH As in Part I of this work, sensory neurons conveyed proprioceptive information from muscle spindles (with static and dynamic fusimotor drive) to populations of α-motor neurons (with recruitment and rate coding properties). The motor commands were transformed into tendon forces by a Hill-type muscle model (with activation-contraction dynamics) via brushless DC motors. Two independent afferented muscles emulated the forces of flexor digitorum profundus and the extensor indicis proprius muscles, forming an antagonist pair at the metacarpophalangeal joint of a cadaveric index finger. We measured the physical response to repetitions of bi-directional ramp-and-hold rotational perturbations for 81 combinations of static and dynamic fusimotor drives, across four ramp velocities, and three levels of constant cortical drive to the α-motor neuron pool. MAIN RESULTS We found that this system produced responses compatible with the physiological literature. Fusimotor and cortical drives had nonlinear effects on the reflex forces. In particular, only cortical drive affected the sensitivity of reflex forces to static fusimotor drive. In contrast, both static fusimotor and cortical drives reduced the sensitivity to dynamic fusimotor drive. Interestingly, realistic signal-dependent motor noise emerged naturally in our system without having been explicitly modeled. SIGNIFICANCE We demonstrate that these fundamental features of spinal afferentation sufficed to produce muscle function. As such, our Neuro-mechano-morphic system is a viable platform to study the spinal mechanisms for healthy muscle function-and its pathologies such as dystonia and spasticity. In addition, it is a working prototype of a robust biomorphic controller for compliant robotic limbs and exoskeletons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kian Jalaleddini
- Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, CA, United States of America
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41
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de Vries IEJ, Daffertshofer A, Stegeman DF, Boonstra TW. Functional connectivity in the neuromuscular system underlying bimanual coordination. J Neurophysiol 2016; 116:2576-2585. [PMID: 27628205 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00460.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural synchrony has been suggested as a mechanism for integrating distributed sensorimotor systems involved in coordinated movement. To test the role of corticomuscular and intermuscular coherence in bimanual coordination, we experimentally manipulated the degree of coordination between hand muscles by varying the sensitivity of the visual feedback to differences in bilateral force. In 16 healthy participants, cortical activity was measured using EEG and muscle activity of the flexor pollicis brevis of both hands using high-density electromyography (HDsEMG). Using the uncontrolled manifold framework, coordination between bilateral forces was quantified by the synergy index RV in the time and frequency domain. Functional connectivity was assessed using corticomuscular coherence between muscle activity and cortical source activity and intermuscular coherence between bilateral EMG activity. The synergy index increased in the high coordination condition. RV was higher in the high coordination condition in frequencies between 0 and 0.5 Hz; for the 0.5- to 2-Hz frequency band, this pattern was inverted. Corticomuscular coherence in the beta band (16-30 Hz) was maximal in the contralateral motor cortex and was reduced in the high coordination condition. In contrast, intermuscular coherence was observed at 5-12 Hz and increased with bimanual coordination. Within-subject comparisons revealed a negative correlation between RV and corticomuscular coherence and a positive correlation between RV and intermuscular coherence. Our findings suggest two distinct neural pathways: 1) corticomuscular coherence reflects direct corticospinal projections involved in controlling individual muscles; and 2) intermuscular coherence reflects diverging pathways involved in the coordination of multiple muscles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingmar E J de Vries
- Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Daffertshofer
- Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dick F Stegeman
- Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd W Boonstra
- Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; .,Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; and.,Systems Neuroscience Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
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42
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Boonstra TW, Farmer SF, Breakspear M. Using Computational Neuroscience to Define Common Input to Spinal Motor Neurons. Front Hum Neurosci 2016; 10:313. [PMID: 27445753 PMCID: PMC4914567 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2016.00313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tjeerd W Boonstra
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South WalesSydney, NSW, Australia; Systems Neuroscience Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Simon F Farmer
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, University College LondonLondon, UK; National Hospital for Neurology and NeurosurgeryLondon, UK
| | - Michael Breakspear
- Systems Neuroscience Group, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteBrisbane, QLD, Australia; Metro North Mental Health Service, Royal Brisbane and Women's HospitalBrisbane, QLD, Australia
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43
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The influence of unilateral contraction of hand muscles on the contralateral corticomuscular coherence during bimanual motor tasks. Neuropsychologia 2016; 85:199-207. [PMID: 27018484 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 02/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The mechanisms behind how muscle contractions in one hand influence corticomuscular coherence in the opposite hand are still undetermined. Twenty-two subjects were recruited to finish bimanual and unimanual motor tasks. In the unimanual tasks, subjects performed precision grip using their right hand with visual feedback of exerted forces. The bimanual tasks involved simultaneous finger abduction of their left hand with visual feedback and precision grip of their right hand. They were divided into four conditions according to the two contraction levels of the left-hand muscles and whether visual feedback existed for the right hand. Measures of coherence and power spectrum were calculated from EEG and EMG data and statistically analyzed to identify changes in corticomuscular coupling and oscillatory activity. Results showed that compared with the unimanual task, a significant increase in the mean corticomuscular coherence of the right hand was found when left-hand muscles contracted at 5% of the maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC). No significant changes were found when the contraction level was 50% of the MVC. Furthermore, both the increase of muscle contraction levels and the elimination of visual feedback for right hand can significantly decrease the corticomuscular coupling in right hand during bimanual tasks. In summary, the involvement of moderate left-hand muscle contractions resulted in an increase tendency of corticomuscular coherence in right hand while strong left-hand muscle contractions eliminated it. We speculated that the perturbation of activities in one corticospinal tract resulted from the movement of the opposite hand can enhance the corticomuscular coupling when attention distraction is limited.
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44
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Boonstra TW, Danna-Dos-Santos A, Xie HB, Roerdink M, Stins JF, Breakspear M. Muscle networks: Connectivity analysis of EMG activity during postural control. Sci Rep 2015; 5:17830. [PMID: 26634293 PMCID: PMC4669476 DOI: 10.1038/srep17830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms that reduce the many degrees of freedom in the musculoskeletal system remains an outstanding challenge. Muscle synergies reduce the dimensionality and hence simplify the control problem. How this is achieved is not yet known. Here we use network theory to assess the coordination between multiple muscles and to elucidate the neural implementation of muscle synergies. We performed connectivity analysis of surface EMG from ten leg muscles to extract the muscle networks while human participants were standing upright in four different conditions. We observed widespread connectivity between muscles at multiple distinct frequency bands. The network topology differed significantly between frequencies and between conditions. These findings demonstrate how muscle networks can be used to investigate the neural circuitry of motor coordination. The presence of disparate muscle networks across frequencies suggests that the neuromuscular system is organized into a multiplex network allowing for parallel and hierarchical control structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjeerd W Boonstra
- MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Hong-Bo Xie
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Melvyn Roerdink
- MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - John F Stins
- MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Breakspear
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
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45
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Steeg CVD, Daffertshofer A, Stegeman DF, Boonstra TW. High-density surface electromyography improves the identification of oscillatory synaptic inputs to motoneurons. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2014; 116:1263-71. [PMID: 24651985 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01092.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Many studies have addressed corticomuscular coherence (CMC), but broad applications are limited by low coherence values and the variability across subjects and recordings. Here, we investigated how the use of high-density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) can improve the detection of CMC. Sixteen healthy subjects performed isometric contractions at six low-force levels using a pinch-grip, while HDsEMG of the adductor pollicis transversus and flexor and abductor pollicis brevis and whole-head magnetoencephalography were recorded. Different configurations were constructed from the HDsEMG grid, such as a bipolar and Laplacian montage, as well as a montage based on principal component analysis (PCA). CMC was estimated for each configuration, and the strength of coherence was compared across configurations. As expected, performance of the precision-grip task resulted in significant CMC in the β-frequency band (16-26 Hz). Compared with a bipolar EMG montage, all multichannel configurations obtained from the HDsEMG grid revealed a significant increase in CMC. The configuration, based on PCA, showed the largest (37%) increase. HDsEMG did not reduce the between-subject variability; rather, many configurations showed an increased coefficient of variation. Increased CMC presumably reflects the ability of HDsEMG to counteract inherent EMG signal factors-such as amplitude cancellation-which impact the detection of oscillatory inputs. In contrast, the between-subject variability of CMC most likely has a cortical origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiel van de Steeg
- MOVE Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Dick F Stegeman
- MOVE Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tjeerd W Boonstra
- MOVE Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; and Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia
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