Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Emma Lubel, Bruno Grandi Sgambato, Deren Y. Barsakcioglu, Jaime Ibanez, Meng-Xing Tang, Dario Farina
Summary: This study fills the gap in the research on human neuromechanical control at the motor unit level by analyzing the kinematics of muscle units in natural contractions. By combining high-density surface electromyography and ultrafast ultrasound recordings, the motion of individual muscle units during contractions was measured. The study provides quantitative metrics such as the duration of motion, total contraction time, and excitation-contraction coupling delay. Additionally, the study also discovered muscle unit twisting and distinct split regions in muscle unit territories during voluntary contractions.
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biology
Xueyong Wang, Murad Nawaz, Chris DuPont, Jessica H. Myers, Steve Ra Burke, Roger A. Bannister, Brent D. Foy, Andrew A. Voss, Mark M. Rich
Summary: Excitation-contraction coupling is the process of converting electrical excitation of muscle into force generation. Depolarization of skeletal muscle can lead to failure of ECC, specifically the failure to generate calcium transients. Different AP properties, such as AP peak and AP integral, play important roles in different steps of ECC, including AP conduction and calcium release.
Review
Physiology
Walter C. Thompson, Paul H. Goldspink
Summary: This review focuses on the crucial role of 14-3-3 proteins in regulating excitation-contraction coupling in muscle, highlighting the need for further investigation into their mechanistic actions in force generation.
PFLUGERS ARCHIV-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Jaroslav Prucha, Lenka Hanakova, Vladimir Socha, Ales Richter
Summary: The study focused on the effects of High Induction Magnetic Stimulation (HIMS) on the viscoelastic properties of skeletal muscles. HIMS was applied to 15 subjects, showing a decrease in muscle tone and an increase in tissue elasticity. The results suggest potential therapeutic benefits of HIMS in rehabilitation medicine, although further research is needed to support these findings.
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Rick Waasdorp, Winfred Mugge, Hendrik J. Vos, Jurriaan H. de Groot, Martin D. Verweij, Nico de Jong, Alfred C. Schouten, Verya Daeichin
Summary: The study proposes a novel method to track the electromechanical muscle dynamics by simultaneously monitoring electrical and mechanical waves in muscles using high-density electromyography and ultrafast ultrasound imaging. This method could potentially help in diagnosing, rehabilitating, and treating patients with neuromuscular diseases.
Review
Physiology
Pura Bolanos, Juan C. Calderon
Summary: The excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle is a crucial link between membrane excitation and mechanical contraction mediated by Ca2+, involving multiple mechanisms of Ca2+ release and recycling.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Optics
Yaxin Zhang, Kesen Ding, Hongxin Zeng, Wei Kou, Tianchi Zhou, Hongji Zhou, Sen Gong, Ting Zhang, Lan Wang, Shixiong Liang, Feng Lan, Yazhou Dong, Zhihong Feng, Yubin Gong, Ziqiang Yang, Daniel M. Mittleman
Summary: Terahertz (THz) technology has attracted much attention as a potential key component of future communication systems. However, the lack of effective high-speed direct modulation of THz waves has hindered the development of THz communication technology. Researchers have developed a guided-wave modulator for THz signals that performs on par with existing fiber-optic modulators. The modulator demonstrates high modulation depth, fast modulation speed, and low insertion loss, making it suitable for on-chip integrated high-performance THz devices.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rianne N. M. Hogenbirk, Alain R. Viddeleer, Judith E. K. R. Hentzen, Willemijn Y. van der Plas, Cees P. van der Schans, Geertruida H. de Bock, Schelto Kruijff, Joost M. Klaase
Summary: This study aimed to determine whether point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) could be used as an easy-to-use bedside measurement alternative to evaluate muscle status. The results showed a significant correlation between POCUS-measured muscle thickness and CT-derived skeletal muscle index (SMI), suggesting that handheld ultrasound is a valid tool for assessing skeletal muscle status.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Takeshi Sugimoto, Tomohiro Nakamura, Sho Yokoyama, Toshia Fujisato, Satoshi Konishi, Takeshi Hashimoto
Summary: This study investigated the effects of electrical pulse stimulation (EPS)-evoked muscle contraction on irisin and CTSB secretion in 3D-engineered muscle (3D-EM). The results showed a significant increase in irisin secretion following EPS, while no significant difference was observed in CTSB secretion between the two groups. Irisin may be a contractile muscle-derived myokine, but CTSB is not secreted by EPS-evoked muscle contractile stimulation in 3D-EM.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dmitry Shishmarev, Emily Rowland, Shouvik Aditya, Srinivasan Sundararaj, Aaron J. Oakley, Angela F. Dulhunty, Marco G. Casarotto
Summary: Excitation-contraction coupling is the process by which an electrical signal is converted into muscle contraction. In this study, the interaction between two calcium channels, dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) and ryanodine receptor 1 (RyR1), during the excitation-contraction coupling process was investigated. The results showed that the protein STAC3 interacts with a subunit of the DHPR known as the II-III loop, and this interaction differs from the interaction with the neuronal isoform STAC2. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanism of excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Bungo Hirose, Kazuna Ikeda, Daisuke Yamamoto, Emiko Tsuda, Rika Yamauchi, Takayoshi Hozuki, Yoshiki Masuda, Tomihiro Imai
Summary: The study aimed to develop a simple and reliable technique for early diagnosis of critical illness myopathy (CIM) by evaluating excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling. The measurement of E-C coupling time (ECCT) was found to be an effective method to detect reduced muscle membrane excitability in the early stage of CIM.
CLINICAL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Jon Herskind, Anders Meldgaard Kristensen, Niels Ortenblad, Frank de Paoli, Kristian Vissing, Kristian Overgaard
Summary: Low-frequency fatigue (LFF) results in a larger deficit in force and power during muscle contractions. In this study, isometric contractions were more affected by LFF compared to concentric and eccentric contractions.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Patrick J. Drouin, Taylor Liu, Lindsay A. Lew, Ellen McGarity-Shipley, Michael E. Tschakovsky
Summary: Oxygen delivery is tightly coupled to demand in exercise below critical power, but whether the normal adjustment of oxygen delivery in small muscle mass exercise is optimal for excitation-contraction coupling is unknown. This study shows that increasing oxygen delivery above normal levels improves excitation-contraction coupling. Results suggest that in heavy exercise intensity, the normal matching of oxygen delivery to metabolic demand is not optimal for muscle excitation-contraction coupling.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Shurun Wang, Hao Tang, Bin Wang, Jia Mo
Summary: The study introduced the rapid refined composite multiscale sample entropy (R2CMSE) method and successfully applied it to analyze muscle fatigue, showing that R2CMSE is faster and more robust compared to other multiscale entropy algorithms. By constructing a three-dimensional map of scale-length-entropy, appropriate time scales and data lengths were determined, revealing significant differences between non-fatigue and fatigue conditions under all algorithms.
BIOMEDICAL SIGNAL PROCESSING AND CONTROL
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Yi Hou, Jiantao Yang, Bengang Qin, Liqiang Gu, Jia Zheng
Summary: B-ultrasound measurement can quantitatively reflect muscle strength following gracilis transfer, and CR value could be a potential indicator for functional recovery of the transplanted gracilis muscle. Patients with higher CR1 values had better muscle strength and range of motion compared to those with lower CR1 values.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Iris Sachet, Niels Peter Brochner Nygaard, Gael Guilhem, Francois Hug, Sylvain Dorel
Summary: This study aimed to determine the relationship between lower-limb muscle strength capacity and torque generation in sprint cycling for male and female world-class cyclists. The results showed that isokinetic torques had stronger correlations with cycling torque than isometric torques, regardless of body position. In males, knee extension and hip flexion torques were key predictors of cycling torque, while in females, knee extension and hip flexion torques accounted for the majority of the variance in cycling torque.
SPORTS BIOMECHANICS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Francois Hug, Simon Avrillon, Aurelie Sarcher, Alessandro Del Vecchio, Dario Farina
Summary: This study used graph theory to extract networks of motor neurons based on their correlated activity and identified the existence of common inputs among the motor neurons. The findings suggest that movements are controlled through small groups of motor neurons with common inputs, which do not necessarily correspond to muscle anatomy. This research provides a new neural framework for understanding the structure of common inputs to motor neurons.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Jeroen Aeles, Aurelie Sarcher, Francois Hug
Summary: This study investigated the anatomical structure and functional role of the human soleus muscle. It was found that the common synaptic input between motor units innervating the medial and lateral posterior soleus compartments was not different from that within each individual compartment, which contradicts previous findings in finger muscles.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Eduardo Martinez-Valdes, Roger M. Enoka, Ales Holobar, Kevin McGill, Dario Farina, Manuela Besomi, Francois Hug, Deborah Falla, Richard G. Carson, Edward A. Clancy, Catherine Disselhorst-Klug, Jaap H. van Dieen, Kylie Tucker, Simon Gandevia, Madeleine Lowery, Karen Sogaard, Thor Besier, Roberto Merletti, Matthew C. Kiernan, John C. Rothwell, Eric Perreault, Paul W. Hodges
Summary: The analysis of single motor unit (SMU) activity is crucial for understanding the neural strategies controlling muscle force. Traditionally, this analysis has been done invasively through intramuscular electromyography (EMG), but recent advances in signal processing techniques have enabled the identification of SMU activity in high-density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) recordings.
JOURNAL OF ELECTROMYOGRAPHY AND KINESIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yue Wen, Sangjoon J. Kim, Simon Avrillon, Jackson T. Levine, Francois Hug, Jose L. Pons
Summary: In this study, a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) framework was proposed for neural drive estimation. The deep CNN can be applied without retraining to different muscles, sessions, and participants, showing potential for neural-machine interfaces.
JOURNAL OF NEURAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Francois Hug, Simon Avrillon, Jaime Ibanez, Dario Farina
Summary: This review proposes a new conceptual framework for the neural control of movement, which combines the concepts of common input to motor neurons and modular control, while considering the constraints imposed by recruitment order. The article analyzes various scales of motor control and offers a unified approach to explain apparently divergent observations.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Louise Tier, Sauro E. Salomoni, Francois Hug, Manuela Besomi, Paul W. Hodges
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the coordination strategies between back muscles during a tightly constrained isometric trunk extension task. The results showed substantial variations in coordination within and between individuals, and changes in coordination after brief exposure to muscle activation feedback. These findings highlight the highly flexible control of back muscles.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Titouan Morin, Robin Souron, Ines Boulaouche, Marc Jubeau, Antoine Nordez, Lilian Lacourpaille
Summary: The purpose of this study was to determine whether mild to moderate muscle damage accumulates on the knee extensors after two bouts of maximal eccentric contractions performed over two consecutive days. The results showed that two days after the initial eccentric session, the experimental group had a higher strength deficit and an increase in muscle shear modulus compared to the control group.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Raphael Hamard, Jeroen Aeles, Simon Avrillon, Taylor J. M. Dick, Francois Hug
Summary: This study aimed to investigate whether the neural control of the biarticular gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and lateralis (GL) muscles is joint-specific. The results showed that there was no difference in the distribution of EMG amplitude and motor unit activity between knee flexion and ankle plantar flexion tasks. The level of common synaptic input between GM and GL motor units was also similar across the two tasks. These findings suggest that the neural control of the GM and GL muscles is similar irrespective of the joint action.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Nicole Y. Kelp, Christofer J. Clemente, Kylie Tucker, Francois Hug, Sabrina Pinel, Taylor J. M. Dick
Summary: Muscle contraction causes bulging and shape changes, which are influenced by internal muscle properties and contractile forces. The internal muscle properties play an important role in shaping and gearing, especially during high-force contractions.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Alessandro Del Vecchio, Carina Marconi Germer, Thomas M. Kinfe, Stefano Nuccio, Francois Hug, Bjoern Eskofier, Dario Farina, Roger M. Enoka
Summary: The purpose of this study was to identify the low-dimensional latent components, called motor unit modes, underlying the discharge rates of motor units in knee extensors and hand muscles during submaximal isometric contractions. Factor analysis identified two independent motor unit modes that captured most of the covariance of the motor unit discharge rates. The distribution of motor unit modes was different between hand and knee muscles, with a continuous distribution found for the knee muscles.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
Antoine Frouin, Hugo Guenanten, Guillaume Le Sant, Lilian Lacourpaille, Martin Liebard, Aurelie Sarcher, Peter J. McNair, Richard Ellis, Antoine Nordez
Summary: This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of 3-D ultrasound in estimating muscle and tendon volume. The results showed that 3-D ultrasound can provide valid and reliable measurements of hamstring muscle and tendon volumes, which could potentially be used in strengthening interventions and clinical settings.
ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Orthopedics
Marion Crouzier, Francois Hug, Frances T. Sheehan, Natalie J. Collins, Kay Crossley, Kylie Tucker
Summary: This study aimed to determine whether there is a difference in the torque distribution between the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis in adolescents with and without patellofemoral pain. The results showed that there was no decreased contribution of the vastus medialis to knee extension torque in adolescents with patellofemoral pain compared to controls.
ORTHOPAEDIC JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Jackson Levine, Simon Avrillon, Dario Farina, Francois Hug, Jose L. Pons
Summary: Recent studies suggest that the nervous system generates movements by controlling groups of motor neurons that do not always align with muscle anatomy. This study aimed to determine whether these motor neuron synergies are consistent across tasks with different mechanical constraints. The results show that principal component analysis and cross-correlation can accurately identify common inputs and separate motor neurons that receive or do not receive these inputs.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2023)