Attempts to understand the control of multijoint movements raise issues that have no counterpart in single-degree-of-freedom control. These arise from redundant degrees of freedom, complex intersegmental dynamics, and the role of multiarticular muscles. Each of these issues, considered in isolation, requires for its resolution the accurate knowledge of a large number of parameters and extensive computations by the CNS. The present proposal seeks to develop and test an alternative scheme for the control of multijoint movement, which is not computation intensive. Namely, given the initial configuration of the segments, and given the task (e.g., final configuration), the CNS chooses as a first approximation a pattern of muscle activity which represents a combination of patterns from its repertoire, and launches the movement. The patten, however, may need considerable sculpting via motion-dependent feedback in order to achieve the task. Previous results from this laboratory, concerning initial muscle activity for two-joint, horizontal-plane arm movements, support this scheme. The scheme is proposed to be tested further in the context of vertical-plane movements that include gravitational effects, and also by allowing trunk movements as an additional degree of freedom. Another aim of the studies is to investigate the role of proprioceptive reflexes, including interjoint effects, in sculpting the activity patterns during movement. The studies will elucidate the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed scheme, shed light on the participation of paraspinal and abdominal musculature in everyday arm movements (heretofore neglected), and provide a new perspective for understanding the role of reflexes in multijoint movements. This knowledge can be of practical use in designing the strategies for artificial control of muscles. It would also provide the framework for quantifying pathological deficits, especially in view of the fact that the most apparent consequences of pathology in the neural motor-control system are manifested in multijoint rather than single-joint movements.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
7R01NS019407-08
Application #
3399450
Study Section
Orthopedics and Musculoskeletal Study Section (ORTH)
Project Start
1983-04-01
Project End
1995-01-31
Budget Start
1992-09-20
Budget End
1993-01-31
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Illinois at Chicago
Department
Type
Schools of Allied Health Profes
DUNS #
121911077
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612
Pfann, Kerstin D; Corcos, Daniel M; Moore, Charity G et al. (2002) Circle-drawing movements at different speeds: role of inertial anisotropy. J Neurophysiol 88:2399-407
Koshland, G F; Hasan, Z (2000) Electromyographic responses to a mechanical perturbation applied during impending arm movements in different directions: one-joint and two-joint conditions. Exp Brain Res 132:485-99
Gram, M C; Hasan, Z (1999) The spinal curve in standing and sitting postures in children with idiopathic scoliosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 24:169-77
Tyler, A E; Hasan, Z (1995) Qualitative discrepancies between trunk muscle activity and dynamic postural requirements at the initiation of reaching movements performed while sitting. Exp Brain Res 107:87-95
Koshland, G F; Hasan, Z (1994) Selection of muscles for initiation of planar, three-joint arm movements with different final orientations of the hand. Exp Brain Res 98:157-62
Karst, G M; Hasan, Z (1991) Timing and magnitude of electromyographic activity for two-joint arm movements in different directions. J Neurophysiol 66:1594-604
Karst, G M; Hasan, Z (1991) Initiation rules for planar, two-joint arm movements: agonist selection for movements throughout the work space. J Neurophysiol 66:1579-93
Hasan, Z; Karst, G M (1989) Muscle activity for initiation of planar, two-joint arm movements in different directions. Exp Brain Res 76:651-5
Hasan, Z; Stuart, D G (1988) Animal solutions to problems of movement control: the role of proprioceptors. Annu Rev Neurosci 11:199-223
Karst, G M; Hasan, Z (1987) Antagonist muscle activity during human forearm movements under varying kinematic and loading conditions. Exp Brain Res 67:391-401

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