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Eric J Perreault

Publications and source records attributed to Eric J Perreault.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

The effect of task instruction on the excitability of spinal and supraspinal reflex pathways projecting to the biceps muscle.

There is controversy within the literature regarding the influence of task instruction on the size of the long-latency stretch reflex (M2) elicited by a joint displacement. The aim of this study was to investigate if the previously reported task-dependent modulation of the M2 is specific to the M2 or can be explained by an early release of the intended voluntary response. We took advantage of the fact that the M2 is absent when the duration of the applied perturbation is less than a critical time period. This allowed us to examine modulation of muscle activity with and without the contribution of the M2. In addition, we applied transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the primary motor cortex to examine the modulation of corticomotor excitability with task instruction. Elbow joint extension displacements were used to elicit a stretch reflex in the biceps muscle. Subjects were instructed to "do not intervene" (DNI) with the applied perturbation, or to oppose the perturbation by activating the elbow flexors in response to the perturbation (FLEX). Electromyographic (EMG) activity in the time period corresponding to the M2 was significantly facilitated in the FLEX task instruction both with and without the presence of the M2. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by TMS were also facilitated during the FLEX condition in the absence of the M2. EMG and MEP responses were not facilitated until immediately prior to the onset of the M2. Paired-pulse TMS revealed a significant reduction in short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) during the M2 response, but the level of SICI was not altered by the task instruction. We conclude that the task-dependent modulation of the biceps M2 results, at least in part, from an early release of the prepared movement and is accompanied by an increase in corticospinal excitability that is not specific to the M2 pathway. Task-dependent modulation of the response cannot be explained by an alteration in the excitability of intracortical inhibitory circuits.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Identification of multiple-input systems with highly coupled inputs: application to EMG prediction from multiple intracortical electrodes.

A robust identification algorithm has been developed for linear, time-invariant, multiple-input single-output systems, with an emphasis on how this algorithm can be used to estimate the dynamic relationship between a set of neural recordings and related physiological signals. The identification algorithm provides a decomposition of the system output such that each component is uniquely attributable to a specific input signal, and then reduces the complexity of the estimation problem by discarding those input signals that are deemed to be insignificant. Numerical difficulties due to limited input bandwidth and correlations among the inputs are addressed using a robust estimation technique based on singular value decomposition. The algorithm has been evaluated on both simulated and experimental data. The latter involved estimating the relationship between up to 40 simultaneously recorded motor cortical signals and peripheral electromyograms (EMGs) from four upper limb muscles in a freely moving primate. The algorithm performed well in both cases: it provided reliable estimates of the system output and significantly reduced the number of inputs needed for output prediction. For example, although physiological recordings from up to 40 different neuronal signals were available, the input selection algorithm reduced this to 10 neuronal signals that made significant contributions to the recorded EMGs.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

The influence of perturbation duration and velocity on the long-latency response to stretch in the biceps muscle.

Different neural pathways are proposed to mediate the long-latency stretch reflex response (M2) in muscles spanning distal and proximal joints of the upper limb. The M2 at the wrist joint is present only if the duration of the perturbation exceeds a critical time. Lee and Tatton put forward a converging input hypothesis, requiring an interaction of excitatory volleys at the spinal cord, to account for this feature. The goal of the present study was to examine the influence of the duration of perturbation on M2 responses elicited in a muscle spanning the elbow joint. Reflex responses were induced in the biceps brachii muscle by applying ramp-and-hold position displacements to the elbow. It was found that the M2 was strongly dependent on the duration of the perturbation. On average, responses were not elicited following perturbations of less than 35+/-5 ms. Using a novel double-movement paradigm, we were unable to provide support for the converging input hypothesis. The effect of the duration of perturbation on the M2 may account for the conflicting characteristics of the M2 that have been provided by previous studies applying mechanical or electrical perturbations of varying time durations.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Multijoint dynamics and postural stability of the human arm.

The goal of this study was to examine how the mechanical properties of the human arm are modulated during isometric force regulation tasks. Specifically, we examined whether the dynamic stability of the limb remained nearly invariant across a range of voluntarily generated endpoint forces and limb postures. Previous single joint studies have demonstrated that dynamic joint stability, as quantified via estimates of the joint damping ratio, is nearly invariant during isometric torque regulation tasks. However, the relevance of these findings to the control of multijoint posture has not been investigated previously. A similar degree of invariance at the multijoint level could suggest a fundamental property of the motor system that could be incorporated into the planning and execution of multijoint tasks. In this work, limb mechanics were quantified using estimates of dynamic endpoint stiffness, which characterizes the relationship between imposed displacements of limb posture and the forces opposing those displacements. Endpoint stiffness was estimated using a two-link robot operating in the horizontal plane at the height of each subject's glenohumeral joint. The robot was used to apply stochastic position perturbations to the arm and to measure the resulting forces. Endpoint stiffness dynamics were estimated nonparametrically and subsequently summarized using inertial, viscous and elastic parameters. We found that in the tasks studied, there was a differential modulation of endpoint elasticity and endpoint viscosity. Elasticity increased nearly linearly with increases in voluntary force generation while viscosity increased nonlinearly. This differential regulation resulted in limb dynamics that had a remarkably consistent damping ratio across all subjects and all tested conditions. These results emphasize the importance of considering the full dynamic response of a limb when investigating multijoint stability, and suggest that a minimal degree of limb stability is maintained over a wide range of force regulation tasks.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Hill muscle model errors during movement are greatest within the physiologically relevant range of motor unit firing rates.

This study evaluated the accuracy of Hill-type muscle models during movement. Hill-type models are ubiquitous in biomechanical simulations. They are attractive because of their computational simplicity and close relation to commonly measured experimental variables, but there have been surprisingly few experimental validations of these models during functionally relevant conditions. Our hypothesis was that model errors during movement are largest at the low motor unit firing rates most relevant to normal movement conditions. This hypothesis was evaluated in the cat soleus muscle activated either by electrical stimulation at physiological rates or via the crossed-extension reflex (CXR) thereby obtaining normal patterns of motor unit recruitment and rate modulation. These activation paradigms were applied during continuous movements approximately matched to locomotor length changes. The resulting muscle force was modeled using a common Hill model incorporating independent activation, tetanic length-tension and tetanic force-velocity properties. Errors for this model were greatest for stimulation rates between approximately 10-20Hz. Errors were especially large for muscles activated via the CXR, where most motor units appear to fire within this range. For large muscle excursions, such as those seen during normal locomotion, the errors for naturally activated muscle typically exceeded 50%, supporting our hypothesis and indicating that the Hill model is not appropriate for these conditions. Subsequent analysis suggested that model errors were due to the common Hill model's inability to account for the coupling between muscle activation and force-velocity properties that is most prevalent at the low motor unit firing rates relevant to normal activation.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Summation of forces from multiple motor units in the cat soleus muscle.

Nearly all muscle models and most motor control concepts assume that forces from individual muscle fibers and motor units sum in an additive manner once effects of in-series tendon compliance are taken into account. Due to the numerous mechanical linkages between individual fibers, though, it is unclear whether this assumption is warranted. This work examined motor unit force summation over a wide range of muscle forces in the cat soleus. Nonadditive summation implies a nonlinear summation of motor unit forces. Summation nonlinearities were quantified during interactions of 10 individual motor units and 4 motor unit bundles containing approximately 10 units each. These protocols allowed motor unit force summation to be examined from approximately 0 to 25% of tetanic muscle force. Nonlinear summation was assessed by comparing the actual forces to the algebraic sum of individual units and bundles stimulated in isolation. Superadditive summation meant that the actual force exceeded the algebraic sum, whereas subadditive summation meant that the actual force was smaller than the algebraic sum. Experiments tested the hypothesis that superadditive summation occurs at low force levels when few motor units are recruited, whereas subadditive summation prevails above 10% of tetanic force. Results were consistent with this hypothesis. As in previous studies, nonlinear summation in the soleus was modest, but a clear transition from predominately superadditive to predominantly subadditive summation occurred in the range of 6-8% of tetanic force. The largest nonlinearities were transient and appeared at the onset of recruitment and derecruitment of groups of motor units. The results are discussed in terms of the mechanical properties of the connective tissue forming the tendon and linking muscle fibers.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Voluntary control of static endpoint stiffness during force regulation tasks.

The goals of this study were to determine the degree to which subjects could voluntarily modulate static endpoint stiffness orientation and to quantify the effects of simultaneously generated voluntary endpoint forces on this ability. Static endpoint stiffness, which characterizes the relationship between externally imposed displacements of the hand and the elastic forces generated in response, was estimated in real time during the application of planar, stochastic perturbations of endpoint position. This estimation was accomplished using a real-time parametric identification algorithm on measured force and position data. Subjects were provided with real-time visual feedback of endpoint stiffness, and their ability to modulate the orientation of maximum static stiffness was measured for different endpoint force magnitudes and directions. We found that individuals can voluntarily change stiffness orientation but that the magnitude of these changes is small, the range of available stiffness orientations decreases as endpoint force exertion increases, and endpoint force direction significantly constrains direction and magnitude of the stiffness orientations that can be achieved. Given these findings it appears unlikely that static endpoint stiffness orientation is controlled independently of force by voluntary neural mechanisms during postural tasks.

Algorithms↗