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A rigorous model of reflex function indicates that position... (2009) Open access

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Title A rigorous model of reflex function indicates that position and force feedback are flexibly tuned to position and force tasks
Author Mugge, W.; Abbink, D.A.; Schouten, A.C.; Dewald, J.P.A.; Van der Helm, F.C.T.
Date 2009-08-24
Language English
Type article
Publisher Springer
Summary This study aims to quantify the separate contributions of muscle force feedback, muscle spindle activity and co-contraction to the performance of voluntary tasks (‘‘reduce the influence of perturbations on maintained force or position’’). Most human motion control studies either isolate only one contributor, or assume that relevant reflexive feedback pathways during voluntary disturbance rejection tasks originate mainly from the muscle spindle. Human ankle-control experiments were performed, using three task instructions and three perturbation characteristics to evoke a wide range of responses to force perturbations. During position tasks, subjects (n = 10) resisted the perturbations, becoming more stiff than when being relaxed (i.e., the relax task). During force tasks, subjects were instructed to minimize force changes and actively gave way to imposed forces, thus becoming more compliant than during relax tasks. Subsequently, linear physiological models were fitted to the experimental data. Inhibitory, as well as excitatory force feedback, was needed to account for the full range of measured experimental behaviors. In conclusion, force feedback plays an important role in the studied motion control tasks (excitatory during position tasks and inhibitory during force tasks), implying that spindle-mediated feedback is not the only significant adaptive system that contributes to the maintenance of posture or force.
Publication http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:28b9efe5-8650-476e-98e5-7499...
Persistent Identifier urn:NBN:nl:ui:24-uuid:28b9efe5-8650-476e-98e5-74991bb215df
Metadata XML
Repository Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology

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