Temporal patterns of muscle activation for arm movements in three- dimensional space

doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.11-09-02680.1991

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Temporal patterns of muscle activation for arm movements in three- dimensional space

Journal Article•DOI•

Temporal patterns of muscle activation for arm movements in three- dimensional space

Martha Flanders¹•Institutions (1)

University of Minnesota¹

01 Sep 1991-The Journal of Neuroscience (Society for Neuroscience)-Vol. 11, Iss: 9, pp 2680-2693

TL;DR: A relatively simple control strategy for mechanically complex arm movements is suggested: neural circuits produce a common phasic and tonic activation waveform that is scaled in amplitude and delayed in time, depending on the desired movement direction.

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Abstract: Little is known about the patterns of muscle activation that subserve arm movement in three-dimensional space. In this study, activation patterns of seven arm muscles were related to the spatial direction of human arm movement. Twenty movement directions defined two orthogonal vertical planes in space. The arm movements were moderately paced; each movement lasted approximately 500 msec. New techniques of EMG analysis were developed to describe the temporal pattern of muscle activation. For each muscle, a principal component analysis revealed a common phasic and tonic waveform for all directions of movement, within one plane. A temporal shifting procedure based on best covariance values revealed activation delays associated with different movement directions. The results show a consistent pattern of temporal shifting of the common waveform for movements in different directions. Coupled with past results showing that activation amplitude is a function of the cosine angle of movement or force direction, the present results suggest a relatively simple control strategy for mechanically complex arm movements: neural circuits produce a common phasic and tonic activation waveform that is scaled in amplitude and delayed in time, depending on the desired movement direction.

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Journal Article•DOI•

A Limited Set of Muscle Synergies for Force Control During a Postural Task

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Lena H. Ting¹, Jane M. Macpherson•Institutions (1)

Georgia Institute of Technology¹

01 Jan 2005-Journal of Neurophysiology

TL;DR: It is suggested that, within the context of active balance control, postural synergies reflect a neural command signal that specifies endpoint force of a limb.

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Abstract: Recently developed computational techniques have been used to reduce muscle activation patterns of high complexity to a simple synergy organization and to bring new insights to the long-standing de...

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642 citations

Cites background or methods or result from "Temporal patterns of muscle activat..."

...On the other hand, also in consonance with our previous results for reaching movements (Flanders 1991; Flanders and others 1994), defining EMG levels as above (positive) or below (negative) the average level revealed instances of coactivation and reciprocal activation of muscle pairs....
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...Thus, as previously demonstrated for armreaching movements (Flanders 1991, 2002; Flanders and others 1996), muscle activation waveforms are asynchronous and cannot be adequately described in terms of a single-command waveform acting as a common drive to groups of agonists and antagonists....
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...We did a PC waveform analysis of the type described by Glaser and Ruchkin (1976), using the Matlab ‘‘princomp’’ function (see also Flanders 1991; Santello and others 2002)....
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...However, in a previous study of reaching (Flanders 1991), we used an approach similar to that of...
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...However, in a previous study of reaching (Flanders 1991), we used an approach similar to that of Ivanenko and others (2004) and did find evidence for time shifts....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Control of fast-reaching movements by muscle synergy combinations.

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Andrea d'Avella, Alessandro Portone¹, Laure Fernandez¹, Francesco Lacquaniti¹•Institutions (1)

University of Rome Tor Vergata¹

26 Jul 2006-The Journal of Neuroscience

TL;DR: The complex spatiotemporal characteristics of the muscles patterns for reaching were captured by the combinations of a small number of components, suggesting that the mechanisms involved in the generation of the muscle patterns exploit this low dimensionality to simplify control.

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Abstract: How the CNS selects the appropriate muscle patterns to achieve a behavioral goal is an open question. To gain insight into this process, we characterized the spatiotemporal organization of the muscle patterns for fast-reaching movements. We recorded electromyographic activity from up to 19 shoulder and arm muscles during point-to-point movements between a central location and 8 peripheral targets in each of 2 vertical planes. We used an optimization algorithm to identify a set of time-varying muscle synergies, i.e., the coordinated activations of groups of muscles with specific time-varying profiles. For each one of nine subjects, we extracted four or five synergies whose combinations, after scaling in amplitude and shifting in time each synergy independently for each movement condition, explained 73–82% of the data variation. We then tested whether these synergies could reconstruct the muscle patterns for point-to-point movements with different loads or forearm postures and for reversal and via-point movements. We found that reconstruction accuracy remained high, indicating generalization across these conditions. Finally, the synergy amplitude coefficients were directionally tuned according to a cosine function with a preferred direction that showed a smaller variability with changes of load, posture, and endpoint than the preferred direction of individual muscles. Thus the complex spatiotemporal characteristics of the muscles patterns for reaching were captured by the combinations of a small number of components, suggesting that the mechanisms involved in the generation of the muscle patterns exploit this low dimensionality to simplify control.

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629 citations

Cites background from "Temporal patterns of muscle activat..."

...ent directions (Flanders, 1991), and they show a gradual shift in...
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...This observation suggests that the phasic waveforms of each individual muscle result from one or a few common waveforms that are scaled in amplitude and delayed in time, depending on the movement direction (Flanders, 1991)....
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...…the muscle patterns for reaching in vertical planes, common phasic waveforms are scaled in amplitude and delayed in time for different directions (Flanders, 1991), and they show a gradual shift in the burst timing and a directional tuning of the burst amplitude with multiple peaks (Flanders et…...
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...This observation suggests that the phasic waveforms of each individual muscle result from one or a few common waveforms that are scaled in amplitude and delayed in time, depending on the movement direction (Flanders, 1991)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Neural Discharge and Local Field Potential Oscillations in Primate Motor Cortex During Voluntary Movements

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John P. Donoghue¹, Jerome N. Sanes¹, Nicholas G. Hatsopoulos¹, Gyöngyi Gaál¹•Institutions (1)

Brown University¹

01 Jan 1998-Journal of Neurophysiology

TL;DR: Widespread coupling of oscillatory signals is consistent with the concept that temporal coding processes operate in motor cortex, but because the relationship between neuronal discharge and the appearance of fast oscillations may be altered by behavioral condition, they must reflect a global process active in conjunction with motor planning or preparatory functions.

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Abstract: Donoghue, John P., Jerome N. Sanes, Nicholas G. Hatsopoulos, and Gyongyi Gaal. Neural discharge and local field potential oscillations in primate motor cortex during voluntary movements. J. Neuroph...

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575 citations

Cites background from "Temporal patterns of muscle activat..."

...Washtion are critical parameters (Bizzi et al. 1991; Flanders 1991; ington, DC: Am....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Cerebral cortical mechanisms of reaching movements.

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John F. Kalaska¹, Donald J. Crammond¹•Institutions (1)

Université de Montréal¹

20 Mar 1992-Science

TL;DR: The paradox between the apparent serial order of central nervous system function and its complex internal organization is strikingly demonstrated by recent behavioral, modeling, and neurophysiological studies of reaching movements.

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Abstract: Because reaching movements have a clear objective--to bring the hand to the spatial location of an object--they are well suited to study how the central nervous system plans a purposeful act from sensory input to motor output. Most models of movement planning propose a serial hierarchy of analytic steps. However, the central nervous system is organized into densely interconnected populations of neurons. This paradox between the apparent serial order of central nervous system function and its complex internal organization is strikingly demonstrated by recent behavioral, modeling, and neurophysiological studies of reaching movements.

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515 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

Moving in three-dimensional space: frames of reference, vectors, and coordinate systems.

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J. F. Soechting¹, M. Flanders•Institutions (1)

University of Minnesota¹

01 Jan 1992-Annual Review of Neuroscience

TL;DR: The question of spatial representation is a theme common to a variety of movements in three-dimensional space, and the neural systems involved in the production of each must deal with aspects that are particular to that task.

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Abstract: We move in a three-dimensional world. What are the motor commands that generate movements o a target in space, and how is sensory information used to control and coordinate such movements? To answer these questions, one must determine how spatial parameters are encoded by the activity of neurons. Within the last decade, experimenters have begun to study a variety of movements in three-dimensional space. Among these are \"reflexive\" (or postural) eye, head, and body movements elicited vestibular and visual stimuli; orienting movements of the eyes, head, and body subserved by the superior collieulus (or in lower vertebrates, the optic tectum); and arm movements with their neural correlates in motor cortex. The neural systems that are involved in the production of each of these movements must deal with aspects that are particular to that task, and specialized reviews are available on each of these topics (Georgopoulos 1986; Knudsen et al 1987; Simpson 1984; Sparks 1986). Nevertheless, the question of spatial representation is a theme common to each of these

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474 citations

Cites background from "Temporal patterns of muscle activat..."

...Arm muscle activation onsets (Hasan & Karst 1989) and activation waveforms (Flanders 1991) been empirically related to the direction of movement....
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References

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Journal Article•DOI•

Kinematic features of unrestrained vertical arm movements

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Christopher G. Atkeson¹, John M. Hollerbach¹•Institutions (1)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology¹

01 Sep 1985-The Journal of Neuroscience

TL;DR: Unrestrained human arm trajectories between point targets have been investigated using a three-dimensional tracking apparatus, the Selspot system, and movement regions were discovered in which the hand paths were curved.

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Abstract: Unrestrained human arm trajectories between point targets have been investigated using a three-dimensional tracking apparatus, the Selspot system. Movements were executed between different points in a vertical plane under varying conditions of speed and hand-held load. In contrast to past results which emphasized the straightness of hand paths, movement regions were discovered in which the hand paths were curved. All movements, whether curved or straight, showed an invariant tangential velocity profile when normalized for speed and distance. The velocity profile invariance with speed and load is interpreted in terms of simplification of the underlying arm dynamics, extending the results of Hollerbach and Flash (Hollerbach, J. M., and T. Flash (1982) Biol. Cybern. 44: 67-77).

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939 citations

"Temporal patterns of muscle activat..." refers background in this paper

...For movement in a vertical plane, an additional level of mechanical complexity arises as a result of gravitational forces (Atkeson and Hollerbach, 1985)....
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...level of mechanical complexity arises as a result of gravitational forces (Atkeson and Hollerbach, 1985)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Primate motor cortex and free arm movements to visual targets in three-dimensional space. II. Coding of the direction of movement by a neuronal population.

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Apostolos P. Georgopoulos¹, RE Kettner¹, Andrew B. Schwartz¹•Institutions (1)

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine¹

01 Aug 1988-The Journal of Neuroscience

TL;DR: A code by which a population of motor cortical neurons could determine uniquely the direction of reaching movements in three- dimensional space is described.

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Abstract: We describe a code by which a population of motor cortical neurons could determine uniquely the direction of reaching movements in three- dimensional space. The population consisted of 475 directionally tuned cells whose functional properties are described in the preceding paper (Schwartz et al., 1988). Each cell discharged at the highest rate with movements in its “preferred direction” and at progressively lower rates with movements in directions away from the preferred one. The neuronal population code assumes that for a particular movement direction each cell makes a vectorial contribution (“votes”) with direction in the cell9s preferred direction and magnitude proportional to the change in the cell9s discharge rate associated with the particular direction of movement. The vector sum of these contributions is the outcome of the population code (the “neuronal population vector”) and points in the direction of movement in space well before the movement begins.

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923 citations

"Temporal patterns of muscle activat..." refers background in this paper

...Georgopoulos and co-workers (Georgopoulos et al., 1983, 1988; Georgopoulos and Massey, 1988) have shown that the direction of an arm movement can be predicted by quantifying the activity of populations of neurons in the motor cortex....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Manual motor performance in a deafferented man

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John C. Rothwell¹, M. M. Traub¹, Brian L. Day¹, Jose A. Obeso¹, P. K. Thomas¹, C. D. Marsden¹ - Show less +2 more•Institutions (1)

Royal Free Hospital¹

01 Sep 1982-Brain

TL;DR: It is shown that a man deafferented by a severe peripheral sensory neuropathy could produce a very wide range of preprogrammed finger movements with remarkable accuracy, involving complex muscle synergies of the hand and forearm muscles.

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Abstract: We have studied manual motor function in a man deafferented by a severe peripheral sensory neuropathy Motor power was almost unaffected Our patient could produce a very wide range of preprogrammed finger movements with remarkable accuracy, involving complex muscle synergies of the hand and forearm muscles He could perform individual finger movements and outline figures in the air with his eyes closed He had normal pre- and postmovement EEG potentials, and showed the normal bi/triphasic pattern of muscle activation in agonist and antagonist muscles during fast limb movements He could also move his thumb accurately through three different distances at three different speeds, and could produce three different levels of force at his thumb pad when required Although he could not judge the weights of objects placed in his hands without vision, he was able to match forces applied by the experimenter to the pad of each thumb if he was given a minimal indication of thumb movement Despite his success with these laboratory tasks, his hands were relatively useless to him in daily life He was unable to grasp a pen and write, to fasten his shirt buttons or to hold a cup in one hand Part of his difficulty lay in the absence of any automatic reflex correction in his voluntary movements, and also to an inability to sustain constant levels of muscle contraction without visual feedback over periods of more than one or two seconds He was also unable to maintain long sequences of simple motor programmes without vision

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829 citations

"Temporal patterns of muscle activat..." refers background in this paper

...However, this drive is not primarily reflexive in origin because it is also apparent in EMGs recorded in the absence of movement and in the absence of peripheral afferent input (Garland et al., 1972; Hallet et al., 1975; Rothwell et al., 1982; Sanes and Jennings, 1984)....
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Journal Article•DOI•

Dynamic interactions between limb segments during planar arm movement

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John M. Hollerbach¹, Tamar Flash¹•Institutions (1)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology¹

01 May 1982-Biological Cybernetics

TL;DR: The significance of the individual interaction forces during reaching movements in a horizontal plane involving only the shoulder and elbow joints has been assessed and trajectory formation strategies which simplify the dynamics computation are presented.

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Abstract: Movement of multiple segment limbs requires generation of appropriate joint torques which include terms arising from dynamic interactions among the moving segments as well as from such external forces as gravity. The interaction torques, arising from inertial, centripetal, and Coriolis forces, are not present for single joint movements. The significance of the individual interaction forces during reaching movements in a horizontal plane involving only the shoulder and elbow joints has been assessed for different movement paths and movement speeds. Trajectory formation strategies which simplify the dynamics computation are presented.

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808 citations

Journal Article•DOI•

Determining muscle's force and action in multi-articular movement.

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Felix E. Zajac, Michael E. Gordon

01 Jan 1989-Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews

755 citations

"Temporal patterns of muscle activat..." refers background in this paper

...The mechanics of multijoint arm movements are significantly more complex than those of single joints because of dynamic interactions between limb segments (Hollerbach and Flash, 1982; Hoy and Zemicke, 1986; Zajac and Gordon, 1989)....
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