Neuromechanical Control of Elastic Energy Storage and Recovery during Ballistic Movements

弹道运动期间弹性能量存储和恢复的神经机械控制

• 批准号: 0623791
• 负责人: Kiisa Nishikawa
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Northern Arizona University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-08-01 至 2010-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0623791&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Neuromechanical; Control; Elastic; Energy; Storage

Over the past 20 years, it has become increasingly clear that an understanding of biomechanics is necessary for understanding motor control. However, our knowledge of precisely how biomechanics influences the control of movement is still rudimentary. One obstacle to developing a deeper understanding of this problem is the sheer complexity of animal bodies. The number of muscles far exceeds the number of joints, and muscles may serve a variety of different functions in addition to their conventional roles as contractile and force-producing elements. The research proposed here uses ballistic tongue projection in toads as a model system to investigate the relationship between the biomechanics and neural control of movement. Ballistic tongue projection in toads is one of the fastest known movements, yet it shares many general features with typical vertebrate motor systems. Because it is relatively well understood, ballistic tongue projection in toads is a tractable model system for investigating the relationship between biomechanics and neural control. The fundamental idea of this proposal is to work backward from a predictive biomechanical model, toward an understanding of the design of the neural circuits that produce movement. The first goal of the proposed research is to develop a complete and predictive biomechanical model of elastic energy storage and recovery during ballistic tongue projection in toads. To complete the biomechanical modeling, the investigators will determine: (1) the force(s) that permit elastic energy storage, including co-activation of antagonistic muscles as well as passive mechanisms; and (2) the mechanical and neural events that permit recovery of elastic strain energy. The second goal of the proposed studies is to use present understanding of biomechanics to develop and test hypotheses about the design of the neural circuits that control ballistic tongue projection. Using neuroanatomical techniques, descriptions will be developed of the neural connections among proprioceptive sensory neurons, motor neurons, and the pre-motor neurons of the cerebellum and medial reticular formation that receive sensory input and control the activity of motor neurons. The proposed studies will provide insight into three important issues in the field of neuromechanics: (1) the contribution of antagonistic muscle contraction to motor control; (2) the structure of neural circuits for feed-forward control of movement, from sensory input to motor output; and (3) the neuroanatomical basis for muscle synergies. The broader impacts of this proposal include the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team, composed of a biomechanist, a behavioral neuroscientist, and a neuroanatomist. In addition, through support from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH), the proposed studies will provide opportunities for participation of underrepresented students, especially Hispanics and Native Americans.

在过去的 20 年里，人们越来越清楚地认识到，理解生物力学对于理解运动控制是必要的。然而，我们对生物力学如何影响运动控制的确切了解仍然很初级。深入了解这一问题的一个障碍是动物身体的复杂性。肌肉的数量远远超过关节的数量，并且肌肉除了作为收缩和产生力的元件的常规作用之外，还可以发挥多种不同的功能。这里提出的研究使用蟾蜍的弹道舌头投射作为模型系统来研究生物力学和运动神经控制之间的关系。蟾蜍的弹道舌头投射是已知最快的运动之一，但它与典型的脊椎动物运动系统具有许多共同特征。由于蟾蜍的弹道舌头投射相对容易理解，因此它是研究生物力学和神经控制之间关系的易于处理的模型系统。该提案的基本思想是从预测生物力学模型向后推导，以理解产生运动的神经回路的设计。该研究的第一个目标是开发一个完整的、预测性的生物力学模型，用于蟾蜍弹道舌头投射过程中的弹性能量存储和恢复。为了完成生物力学建模，研究人员将确定：（1）允许弹性能量存储的力，包括拮抗肌和被动机制的共同激活； (2)允许弹性应变能恢复的机械和神经事件。拟议研究的第二个目标是利用目前对生物力学的理解来开发和测试有关控制弹道舌头投射的神经回路设计的假设。使用神经解剖学技术，将描述本体感觉感觉神经元、运动神经元以及小脑和内侧网状结构的前运动神经元之间的神经连接，这些神经元接收感觉输入并控制运动神经元的活动。拟议的研究将深入了解神经力学领域的三个重要问题：（1）拮抗肌收缩对运动控制的贡献； （2）从感觉输入到运动输出的运动前馈控制的神经回路结构； (3)肌肉协同作用的神经解剖学基础。该提案的更广泛影响包括由生物力学家、行为神经科学家和神经解剖学家组成的多学科团队的合作。此外，在美国国家普通医学科学研究所（NIH）的支持下，拟议的研究将为代表性不足的学生，特别是西班牙裔和美洲原住民提供参与机会。