Using Neck Muscle Afferentation to Control an Ongoing Limb Movement? Individual Differences in the Influence of Brief Neck Vibration.

When preparing and executing goal-directed actions, neck proprioceptive information is critical to determining the relative positions of the body and target in space. While the contribution of neck proprioception for upper-limb movements has been previously investigated, we could not find evidence discerning its impact on the planning vs. online control of upper-limb trajectories.

Effects of robotic guidance on sensorimotor control: planning vs. online control?

Background: Robotic guidance has been shown to facilitate motor skill acquisition, through altered sensorimotor control, in neurologically impaired and healthy populations.

Objective: To determine if robot-guided practice and online visual feedback availability primarily influences movement planning or online control mechanisms.

Methods: In this two-experiment study, participants first performed a pre-test involving reaches with or without vision, to obtain baseline measures.

Effects of balance training with visual feedback during mechanically unperturbed standing on postural corrective responses.

Evidence of a non-specific effect of balance training on postural control mechanisms suggests that balance training during mechanically unperturbed standing may improve postural corrective responses following external perturbations. The purpose of the present study was to examine kinematics of the trunk as well as muscular activity of the lower leg and paraspinal muscles during postural responses to support-surface rotations after short-term balance training. Experiments were performed in control (n=10) and experimental (n=11) groups.

Differential effects of plantar cutaneous afferent excitation on soleus stretch and H-reflex.

Previous studies have demonstrated that plantar cutaneous afferents can adjust motoneuron excitability, which may contribute significantly to the control of human posture and locomotion. However, the role of plantar cutaneous afferents in modulating the excitability of stretch and H-reflex with respect to the location of their excitation remains unclear. In the present study, it was hypothesized that electrical stimulation delivered to the sole of the foot might be followed by modulation of spinal excitability that depends on: (1) the stimulation location and (2) the reflex studied.