Estimating motor unit discharge patterns from high-density surface electromyogram.
Open accessAbstract
Objective We systematically tested the capability of the Convolution Kernel Compensation (CKC) method to identify motor unit (MU) discharge patterns from the simulated and experimental surface electromyogram (sEMG) during low-force contractions.Methods sEMG was detected with a grid of 13 x 5 electrodes. In simulated signals with 20 dB signal-to-noise ratio, 11+/-3 out of 63 concurrently active MUs were identified with sensitivity >95% in the estimation of their discharge times. In experimental signals recorded at 0-10% of the maximal force, the discharge patterns of (range) 11-19 MUs (abductor pollicis; n=8 subjects), 9-17 MUs (biceps brachii; n=2), 7-11 MUs (upper trapezius; n=2), and 6-10 MUs (vastus lateralis; n=2) were identified. In the abductor digiti minimi muscle of one subject, the decomposition results from concurrently recorded sEMG and intramuscular EMG (iEMG) were compared; the two approaches agreed on 98+/-1% of MU discharges.Conclusion It is possible to identify the discharge patterns of several MUs during low-force contractions from high-density sEMG.Significance sEMG can be used for the analysis of individual MUs when the application of needles is not desirable or in combination with iEMG to increase the number of sampled MUs.
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The motor unit decomposition procedure was previously extensively validated on signals from various skeletal muscles.
“We followed the decomposition procedure that was previously extensively validated on signals from various skeletal muscles (7,17,21,25–28).”
From Modulation of Neural and Muscular Adaptation Processes During Resistance Training by Fish Protein Ingestions in Older Adults (2020) · cites this paper as [21]
Discharges with interdischarge intervals < 33.3 or >250 ms were excluded because firing rates calculated from this range are unusually high (>30 Hz) or low (<4 Hz) for the VL muscle.
“We excluded the discharges with interdischarge intervals < 33.3 or >250 ms because firing rates that calculated from this range of interdischarge intervals are unusually high (>30 Hz) or low (<4 Hz) for the VL muscle (7,20,21,30,31).”
From Modulation of Neural and Muscular Adaptation Processes During Resistance Training by Fish Protein Ingestions in Older Adults (2020) · cites this paper as [21]
The multi-channel surface EMG technique facilitates robust assessment of motor unit firing rates along with their recruitment thresholds.
“Moreover, the multi-channel surface EMG technique facilitates the robust assessment of motor unit firing rates along with their recruitment thresholds (Holobar et al., 2009).”
From Effect of resistance training and fish protein intake on motor unit firing pattern and motor function of elderly (2018) · cites this paper as Holobar et al., 2009
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“3 or >250 ms because firing rates that calculated from this range of interdischarge intervals are unusually high (>30 Hz) or low (<4 Hz) for the VL muscle (7,20,21,30,31).”
BackgroundSelf-citation
- Authors
- Holobar, A., Farina, D., Gazzoni, M., Merletti, R., & Zazula, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Maribor (SI)
- Aalborg University (DK)
- Politecnico di Torino (IT)
- Venue
- Clinical Neurophysiology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-03
- Volume
- 120
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 551-562
- ISSN
- 1388-2457 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1964919144
- Cited by
- 318
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 28 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 6.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- Locations
- Clinical Neurophysiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PORTO@Iris (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- PORTO Publications Open Repository TOrino (Politecnico di Torino) (submittedVersion)
- VBN Forskningsportal (Aalborg Universitet) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Compagnia di San Paolo
- Teknologi og Produktion, Det Frie Forskningsråd
- European Space Agency
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Peripheral Nerve Disorders
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Keywords
- motor unit firing patterns, high-density surface electromyography, motor unit decomposition, intramuscular electromyography, biceps brachii, upper trapezius, vastus lateralis, abductor digiti minimi, signal-to-noise ratio
- MeSH terms
- Action Potentials, Adult, Arm, Computer Simulation, Electrodes, Electromyography, Hand, Humans, Male, Motor Neurons, Muscle Contraction, Neuromuscular Junction, Shoulder, Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted, Thigh, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal, Quadriceps Muscle
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