Stance- and locomotion-dependent processing of vibration-induced proprioceptive inflow from multiple muscles in humans

Grégoire Courtine, Alessandro Marco De Nunzio, Micaela Schmid, Maria Vittoria Beretta, Marco Schieppati

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We performed a whole-body mapping study of the effect of unilateral muscle vibration, eliciting spindle Ia firing, on the control of standing and walking in humans. During quiet stance, vibration applied to various muscles of the trunk-neck system and of the lower limb elicited a significant tilt in whole body postural orientation. The direction of vibration-induced postural tilt was consistent with a response compensatory for the illusory lengthening of the stimulated muscles. During walking, trunk-neck muscle vibration induced ample deviations of the locomotor trajectory toward the side opposite to the stimulation site. In contrast, no significant modifications of the locomotor trajectory could be detected when vibrating various muscles of the lower as well as upper limb. The absence of correlation between the effects of muscle vibration during walking and standing dismisses the possibility that vibration-induced postural changes can account for the observed deviations of the locomotor trajectory during walking. We conclude that the dissimilar effects of trunk-neck and lower limb muscle vibration during walking and standing reflect a general sensory-motor plan, whereby muscle Ia input is processed according to both the performed task and the body segment from which the sensory inflow arises.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)772-9
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Neurophysiology
Volume97
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2007

Keywords

  • Action Potentials
  • Adult
  • Central Nervous System
  • Female
  • Gait
  • Humans
  • Illusions
  • Leg
  • Locomotion
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle Spindles
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Neck Muscles
  • Physical Stimulation
  • Postural Balance
  • Proprioception
  • Vibration
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Stance- and locomotion-dependent processing of vibration-induced proprioceptive inflow from multiple muscles in humans'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this