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Cited by 136Muscle activation and electromyography studiesMuscle Physiology and DisordersPeripheral Nerve Disorders

Recruitment and rate coding organisation for soleus motor units across entire range of voluntary isometric plantar flexions.

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Oya, Tomomichi, Riek, Stephan, Cresswell, Andrew G.·2009·The Journal of Physiology
DOI 10.1113/jphysiol.2009.175695PMC PMC2768026
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Abstract

Unlike upper limb muscles, it remains undocumented as to how motor units in the soleus muscle are organised in terms of recruitment range and discharge rates with respect to their recruitment and de-recruitment thresholds. The possible influence of neuromodulation, such as persistent inward currents (PICs) on lower limb motor unit recruitment and discharge rates has also yet to be reported. To address these issues, electromyographic (EMG) activities from the soleus muscle were recorded using selective branched-wire intramuscular electrodes during ramp-and-hold contractions with intensities up to maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The multiple single motor unit activities were then derived using a decomposition technique. The onset-offset hysteresis of motor unit discharge, i.e. a difference between recruitment and de-recruitment thresholds, as well as PIC magnitude calculated by a paired motor unit analysis were used to examine the neuromodulatory effects on discharge behaviours, such as minimum firing rate, peak firing rate and degree of increase in firing rate. Forty-two clearly identified motor units from five subjects revealed that soleus motor units are recruited progressively from rest to contraction strengths close to 95% of MVC, with low-threshold motor units discharging action potentials slower at their recruitment and with a lower peak rate than later recruited high-threshold units. This observation is in contrast to the 'onion skin phenomenon' often reported for the upper limb muscles. Based on positive correlations of the peak discharge rates, initial rates and recruitment order of the units with the magnitude of the onset-offset hysteresis and not PIC contribution, we conclude that discharge behaviours among motor units appear to be related to a variation in an intrinsic property other than PICs.

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  1. Tokizane T, Shimazu H. Functional Differentiation of Human Skeletal Muscle. Corticalization and Spinalizaion of Movement. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas; 1964. [Google Scholar]

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Authors
Oya, T., Riek, S., & Cresswell, A. G.
Affiliations
The University of Queensland (AU)
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Physiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2009-09-29
Volume
587
Issue
19
Pages
4737-4748
ISSN
  • 0022-3751 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7793
DOI
10.1113/jphysiol.2009.175695
PMC
PMC2768026
OpenAlex
W2117957810
Cited by
136
References
35
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 11
FWCI
5.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • The Journal of Physiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Peripheral Nerve Disorders
Keywords
soleus muscle, motor unit recruitment, motor unit discharge rate, recruitment threshold, persistent inward currents, neuromodulation, isometric plantar flexion, single motor unit activity
MeSH terms
Action Potentials, Adult, Electromyography, Humans, Isometric Contraction, Male, Motor Neurons, Recruitment, Neurophysiological, Muscle, Skeletal, Electrophysiological Phenomena, Young Adult

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