Interrelationship of neural and contractile properties in control of muscle force in humans

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This research program will focus on determining and understanding key nervous and muscle factors and their interactions in the generation and control of muscle force. By studying humans we will provide important information in this field that is applicable to both fundamental systems physiology and applied physiology. Our core techniques and expertise allow us to focus uniquely on the interrelationship between spinal neural drive and muscle contractile characteristics during the generation and control of human movement. Our experiments utilize state-of-the-art surface and indwelling needle electromyography (EMG) to assess neural output during controlled voluntary activities in combination with isometric and dynamic measures of electrically elicited and voluntary contractile responses from various limb muscles. A main objective in the next several years is to extend these ideas to dynamic movements that are more natural rather than static measures traditionally used in a laboratory setting. We will accomplish these goals by studying acute (fatigue, potentiation) and chronic adapted states (aging, training) as models to stress the system to explore key underlying factors important in the generation and control of motor output. To help us we will incorporate several novel non-invasive or minimally invasive techniques that will provide complementary information from which an integrative understanding of the neuromuscular system will be gained. Findings obtained from these models of study (adapted states) can be instrumental in providing important information about normal physiologic mechanisms. These ideas can then be applied or translated by others to improve our understanding of human neuromuscular function in health and disease.