Comparison of muscle synergies in walking and pedaling: the influence of rotation direction and speed.

Background: Understanding the muscle synergies shared between pedaling and walking is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms of human motor control and establishing highly individualized rehabilitation strategies. This study investigated how pedaling direction and speed influence the recruitment of walking-like muscle synergies.

Methods: Twelve healthy male participants pedaled at three speeds (60 RPM, 30 RPM, and 80 RPM) in two rotational directions (forward and backward).

Effects of Different Intensities of Repetitive Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation on Spinal Reciprocal Inhibition in Healthy Persons.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the effect of the spinal circuit of repetitive magnetic stimulation (rPMS) on the soleus muscle among healthy subjects.

Methods: Nineteen healthy adults were included in this study. Intermittent rPMS was applied to the left soleus muscle for 20 minutes.

Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation phase-dependently modulates spinal reciprocal inhibition induced by pedaling in healthy individuals.

Reciprocal inhibition (RI) between leg muscles is crucial for smooth movement. Pedaling is a rhythmic movement that can increase RI in healthy individuals. Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) stimulates spinal neural circuits by targeting the afferent fibers.

Simulating tDCS electrode placement to stimulate both M1 and SMA enhances motor performance and modulates cortical excitability depending on current flow direction.

Introduction: The conventional method of placing transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) electrodes is just above the target brain area. However, this strategy for electrode placement often fails to improve motor function and modulate cortical excitability. We investigated the effects of optimized electrode placement to induce maximum electrical fields in the leg regions of both M1 and SMA, estimated by electric field simulations in the T1and T2-weighted MRI-based anatomical models, on motor performance and cortical excitability in healthy individuals.

Quadriceps muscle activity during walking with a knee ankle foot orthosis is associated with improved gait ability in acute hemiplegic stroke patients with severe gait disturbance.

Introduction: A knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) prevents knee buckling during walking and enables gait training for acute hemiplegic stroke patients with severe gait disturbances. Although the goal of gait training with a KAFO is to improve gait ability, that is, to acquire walking with an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), it is not clear how gait training with a KAFO contributes to improving gait ability. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between muscle activities during walking with a KAFO and the improvement of gait ability in hemiplegic stroke patients with severe gait disturbance.

Predicting interindividual response to theta burst stimulation in the lower limb motor cortex using machine learning.

Using theta burst stimulation (TBS) to induce neural plasticity has played an important role in improving the treatment of neurological disorders. However, the variability of TBS-induced synaptic plasticity in the primary motor cortex prevents its clinical application. Thus, factors associated with this variability should be explored to enable the creation of a predictive model.

Factor analysis for construct validity of a trunk impairment scale in Parkinson's disease: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate the construct validity of the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), which was developed to assess trunk impairment in patients with stroke, in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Design: This retrospective, cross-sectional study enrolled consecutive PD inpatients. Correlation analysis was performed to clarify whether the TIS assessment was related to other balance functions, lower extremity muscle strength, or walking ability.

Combined neuromuscular electrical stimulation and transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation increases motor cortical plasticity in healthy humans.

Introduction: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) induces neural plasticity of the central nervous system (CNS) and improves motor function in patients with CNS lesions. However, the extended stimulus duration of NMES reduces its clinical applicability. Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS), which increases afferent input, may enhance the effects and reduce the stimulus duration of NMES.

New Artificial Intelligence-Integrated Electromyography-Driven Robot Hand for Upper Extremity Rehabilitation of Patients With Stroke: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Background: An artificial intelligence (AI)-integrated electromyography (EMG)-driven robot hand was devised for upper extremity (UE) rehabilitation. This robot detects patients' intentions to perform finger extension and flexion based on the EMG activities of 3 forearm muscles.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of this robot in patients with chronic stroke.

Changes in Corticospinal Excitability and Motor Control During Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Healthy Individuals.

Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) modulates the primary motor cortex (M1) via cerebellar brain inhibition (CBI), which affects motor control in humans. However, the effects of ctDCS on motor control are inconsistent because of an incomplete understanding of the real-time changes in the M1 excitability that occur during ctDCS, which determines motor output under regulation by the cerebellum. This study investigated changes in corticospinal excitability and motor control during ctDCS in healthy individuals.

Relationship between spinal reflexes and leg motor function in sub-acute and chronic stroke patients.

Objective: To assess the relationship between spinal reflexes and motor function in sub-acute (SAS) and chronic stroke (CS) patients.

Methods: Twelve SAS and 16 CS patients underwent electrophysiological assessment of heteronymous facilitation (HF), heteronymous inhibition (HI), disynaptic reciprocal inhibition (DRI), and D1 inhibition (D1). The Fugl-Meyer Assessment Lower Extremity (FMA-LE) and modified Ashworth scale (MAS) were assessed.

Endocrine Regulation of Maturation and Sex Change in Groupers.

Groupers are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide, are key species to coastal ecosystems, and valuable fishery targets. To facilitate artificial seed production technology for grouper aquaculture, the mechanisms of reproduction and gonad development are being elucidated for these important species. In addition, since groupers are sexually dimorphic fish with female-first maturity (protogynous hermaphrodite fish), research is being conducted to clarify the ecological mechanism of sex change and their reproductive physiology, focusing on the endocrine system.

Individualized beta-band oscillatory transcranial direct current stimulation over the primary motor cortex enhances corticomuscular coherence and corticospinal excitability in healthy individuals.

Background: Simultaneously modulating individual neural oscillation and cortical excitability may be important for enhancing communication between the primary motor cortex and spinal motor neurons, which plays a key role in motor control. However, it is unknown whether individualized beta-band oscillatory transcranial direct current stimulation (otDCS) enhances corticospinal oscillation and excitability.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of individualized beta-band otDCS on corticomuscular coherence (CMC) and corticospinal excitability in healthy individuals.

The effect of cathodal transspinal direct current stimulation on tibialis anterior stretch reflex components in humans.

Spinal DC stimulation (tsDCS) shows promise as a technique for the facilitation of functional recovery of motor function following central nervous system (CNS) lesion. However, the network mechanisms that are responsible for the effects of tsDCS are still uncertain. Here, in a series of experiments, we tested the hypothesis that tsDCS increases the excitability of the long-latency stretch reflex, leading to increased excitability of corticospinal neurons in the primary motor cortex.

Electrical stimulation of the common peroneal nerve and its effects on the relationship between corticomuscular coherence and motor control in healthy adults.

Background: Sensory input via neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) may contribute to synchronization between motor cortex and spinal motor neurons and motor performance improvement in healthy adults and stroke patients. However, the optimal NMES parameters used to enhance physiological activity and motor performance remain unclear. In this study, we focused on sensory feedback induced by a beta-band frequency NMES (β-NMES) based on corticomuscular coherence (CMC) and investigated the effects of β-NMES on CMC and steady-state of isometric ankle dorsiflexion in healthy volunteers.

The effect of a shoe lift on tensor fasciae latae length during standing with an artificial functional leg length discrepancy: An ultrasonic shear wave elastography study.

Background: Shortening of tensor fasciae latae is one factor that causes a functional leg length discrepancy. A shoe lift has been used to correct the compensatory posture resulting from the discrepancy. Despite the potential therapeutic benefit of a shoe lift, the mechanism by which it exerts its effect is unclear.

Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation of the Primary Motor Cortex after Skill Acquisition Improves Motor Memory Retention in Humans: A Double-Blinded Sham-Controlled Study.

Consolidation leading to retention of motor memory following motor practice involves activity-dependent plastic processes in the corticospinal system. To investigate whether beta-band transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) applied immediately following skill acquisition can enhance ongoing consolidation processes and thereby motor skill retention 20 adults participated in a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled study. Participants received tACS at peak beta-band corticomuscular coherence (CMC) frequency or sham tACS for 10 min following practice of a visuomotor ankle dorsiflexion task.

Repetitive Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation of Wrist Extensors Enhances Cortical Excitability and Motor Performance in Healthy Individuals.

Repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) may improve motor function following central nervous system lesions, but the optimal parameters of rPMS to induce neural plasticity and mechanisms underlying its action remain unclear. We examined the effects of rPMS over wrist extensor muscles on neural plasticity and motor performance in 26 healthy volunteers. In separate experiments, the effects of rPMS on motor evoked potentials (MEPs), short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF), direct motor response (M-wave), Hoffmann-reflex, and ballistic wrist extension movements were assessed before and after rPMS.

Interindividual Variability of Lower-Limb Motor Cortical Plasticity Induced by Theta Burst Stimulation.

Theta burst stimulation (TBS) has been used as a tool to induce synaptic plasticity and improve neurological disorders. However, there is high interindividual variability in the magnitude of the plastic changes observed after TBS, which hinders its clinical applications. The electric field induced by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is strongly affected by the depth of the stimulated brain region.

Single-Session Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Affects Postural Control Learning and Cerebellar Brain Inhibition in Healthy Individuals.

Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) modulates cerebellar activity and postural control. However, the effects of ctDCS on postural control learning and the mechanisms associated with these effects remain unclear. To examine the effects of single-session ctDCS on postural control learning and cerebellar brain inhibition (CBI) of the primary motor cortex in healthy individuals.

Transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation increases corticospinal transmission and enhances voluntary motor output in humans.

Optimization of motor performance is of importance in daily life, in relation to recovery following injury as well as for elite sports performance. The present study investigated whether transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) may enhance voluntary ballistic activation of ankle muscles and descending activation of spinal motor neurons in able-bodied adults. Forty-one adults (21 men; 24.

Transcranial direct-current stimulation combined with attention increases cortical excitability and improves motor learning in healthy volunteers.

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has the potential to induce motor cortical plasticity in humans. It is well known that motor cortical plasticity plays an essential role in motor learning and recovery in patients with stroke and neurodegenerative disorders. However, it remains unclear how cognitive function influences motor cortical plasticity induced by tDCS.

Does the balance strategy during walking in elderly persons show an association with fall risk assessment?

The primary objective of this study was to clarify whether balance evaluation during walking in elderly people was related to fall risk assessment; the second objective was to clarify the difference in balance strategy between young and elderly people based on the balance evaluation through a gait cycle. Thirty healthy young adults and 25 healthy elderly adults participated. All participants performed walking at their preferred speed and at a fast speed.