JN Add DOIs to your references at manuscript stage!
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Neurophysiol 92: 3210-3220, 2004. First published July 7, 2004; doi:10.1152/jn.00516.2004
0022-3077/04 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
92/6/3210    most recent
00516.2004v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (11)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Winges, S. A.
Right arrow Articles by Santello, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Winges, S. A.
Right arrow Articles by Santello, M.

Common Input to Motor Units of Digit Flexors During Multi-Digit Grasping

Sara A. Winges1,3 and Marco Santello1,2,3

1Department of Kinesiology, 2The Harrington Department of Bioengineering, and 3National Science Foundation-Integrated Graduate Education and Research Training Program in Neural and Musculoskeletal Adaptations in Form and Function, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-0404

Submitted 17 May 2004; accepted in final form 2 July 2004

The control of whole hand grasping relies on complex coordination of multiple forces. While many studies have characterized the coordination of finger forces and torques, the control of hand muscle activity underlying multi-digit grasping has not been studied to the same extent. Motor-unit synchrony across finger muscles or muscle compartments might be one of the factors underlying the limited individuation of finger forces. Such "unwanted" coupling among finger forces, however, might be desirable when a high level of force coupling is required to prevent object slip during grasping. The goal of this study was to quantify the strength of synchrony between single motor units from extrinsic hand muscles as subjects held a device with a five-digit grasp. During the hold phase, we recorded the normal force exerted by each digit and the electrical activity of single motor units from each of the four divisions of the muscle flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) and one thumb flexor muscle, m. flexor pollicis longus (FPL). The strength of motor-unit synchrony was quantified by the common input strength index (CIS). We found moderate to strong motor-unit synchrony between FPL and the index FDP compartment [CIS: 0.49 ± 0.03 (SE)] and across most FDP compartments (0.34 ± 0.02). Weak synchrony, however, was found between FPL and the middle, ring, and little finger FDP compartments (0.25 ± 0.01). This difference might reflect the larger force contribution of the thumb-index finger pair relative to other thumb-finger combinations in five-digit grasping.

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: M. Santello, Dept. of Kinesiology, PEBE 107B, Orange Street, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-0404 (E-mail: marco.santello{at}asu.edu).




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
S. A. Winges, S. E. Eonta, J. F. Soechting, and M. Flanders
Multi-Digit Control of Contact Forces During Rotation of a Hand-Held Object
J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2008; 99(4): 1846 - 1856.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
S. A. Winges, K. W. Kornatz, and M. Santello
Common Input to Motor Units of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Hand Muscles During Two-Digit Object Hold
J Neurophysiol, March 1, 2008; 99(3): 1119 - 1126.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
W. S. Yu, S. L. Kilbreath, R. C. Fitzpatrick, and S. C. Gandevia
Thumb and finger forces produced by motor units in the long flexor of the human thumb
J. Physiol., September 15, 2007; 583(3): 1145 - 1154.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Appl. Physiol.Home page
K. G. Keenan, D. Farina, F. G. Meyer, R. Merletti, and R. M. Enoka
Sensitivity of the cross-correlaton between simulated surface EMGs for two muscles to detect motor unit synchronization
J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2007; 102(3): 1193 - 1201.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
T. L. McIsaac and A. J. Fuglevand
Motor-Unit Synchrony Within and Across Compartments of the Human Flexor Digitorum Superficialis
J Neurophysiol, January 1, 2007; 97(1): 550 - 556.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
S. A. Winges, J. A. Johnston, and M. Santello
Muscle-Pair Specific Distribution and Grip-Type Modulation of Neural Common Input to Extrinsic Digit Flexors
J Neurophysiol, September 1, 2006; 96(3): 1258 - 1266.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurophysiol.Home page
J. A. Johnston, S. A. Winges, and M. Santello
Periodic Modulation of Motor-Unit Activity in Extrinsic Hand Muscles During Multidigit Grasping
J Neurophysiol, July 1, 2005; 94(1): 206 - 218.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurosci.Home page
G. B. Hockensmith, S. Y. Lowell, and A. J. Fuglevand
Common Input across Motor Nuclei Mediating Precision Grip in Humans
J. Neurosci., May 4, 2005; 25(18): 4560 - 4564.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Integr. Comp. Biol.Home page
S. A. Winges and M. Santello
From Single Motor Unit Activity to Multiple Grip Forces: Mini-review of Multi-digit Grasping.
Integr. Comp. Biol., January 1, 2005; 45: 679 - 682.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online
Copyright © 2004 by the The American Physiological Society.