|
|
||||||||
The Journal of Neurophysiology Vol. 85 No. 5 May 2001, pp. 1907-1913
Copyright ©2001 by the American Physiological Society
Department of Medical Physiology, University of Groningen, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
Zijdewind, Inge and
Daniel Kernell.
Bilateral Interactions During Contractions of Intrinsic Hand
Muscles. J. Neurophysiol. 85: 1907-1913, 2001. During demanding voluntary contractions (e.g., high
force or fatigue), activation is not restricted to the target muscle
but extends to other ipsilateral muscles; even contralateral muscles become activated. The contralateral "irradiation" of activity was
measured in five subjects during submaximal and maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) (index finger abduction) and during unfatigued and fatigued conditions. All
subjects were tested five times with at least one week between tests.
Unilateral MVCs were associated with a substantial amount of
contralateral FDI activation [mean = 7.9 ± 6.7% (SD) MVC
prior to fatigue]. The amount of such contralateral irradiation was significantly different between different individuals and was positively correlated between dominant and nondominant hands. During
fatigue tests, the contractile activity of the contralateral "nontarget" index finger showed progressive increase (force,
electromyogram) as was measured during both the submaximal task and
interspersed MVCs of the target finger. In addition, a superimposed
saw-tooth pattern of intermittently waxing and waning contractions
commonly appeared contralaterally. The expression of contralateral
irradiation force was itself fatigue-sensitive: less irradiation was
seen in a recently fatigued muscle than was seen before the fatigue test. These fatigue effects could not be explained as having been caused by changes in muscle properties. Possible anatomical sites of
contralateral irradiation are briefly discussed.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
T. J. Carroll, R. D. Herbert, J. Munn, M. Lee, and S. C. Gandevia Contralateral effects of unilateral strength training: evidence and possible mechanisms J Appl Physiol, November 1, 2006; 101(5): 1514 - 1522. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Perfiliev Bilateral Processing of Motor Commands in the Motor Cortex of the Cat During Target-Reaching J Neurophysiol, May 1, 2005; 93(5): 2489 - 2506. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. J. Huang and D. P. Ferris Neural coupling between upper and lower limbs during recumbent stepping J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2004; 97(4): 1299 - 1308. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. Hortobagyi, J. L. Taylor, N. T. Petersen, G. Russell, and S. C. Gandevia Changes in Segmental and Motor Cortical Output With Contralateral Muscle Contractions and Altered Sensory Inputs in Humans J Neurophysiol, October 1, 2003; 90(4): 2451 - 2459. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Shinohara, K. G. Keenan, and R. M. Enoka Contralateral activity in a homologous hand muscle during voluntary contractions is greater in old adults J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2003; 94(3): 966 - 974. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. C. Gandevia Spinal and Supraspinal Factors in Human Muscle Fatigue Physiol Rev, October 1, 2001; 81(4): 1725 - 1789. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Visit Other APS Journals Online |