Effects of altered input from the neck on upper limb sensorimotor integration

颈部输入改变对上肢感觉运动整合的影响

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-05546
• 负责人: Murphy, Bernadette
• 金额: $ 2.99万
• 依托单位: University of Ontario Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=615762
• 关键词: Effects; altered; input; neck; upper

Most of us have had the experience of reaching for an object and missing, or had days when we make more typos than usual while on our computers. What we may not have considered is that these experiences may be the consequences of altered sensorimotor integration (SMI) due to altered sensory input from our necks. SMI is the ability of the central nervous system (CNS) to integrate sensory information from different body parts and formulate appropriate motor outputs to muscles. Effective SMI is essential when learning new skills and when performing tasks at home and in the workplace. Yet we understand very little about how changing the sensory input from the neck impacts SMI of the upper limb, and this affects the brain’s control of movement and how we learn new actions. Recently my lab has found that neck muscle fatigue impairs our ability to know exactly where our arm is located in 3D space. We have also found that individuals with chronic changes in neck input due to pain or stiffness are worse at learning new movement skills and have worse spatial awareness. We think this is because changes in sensory input from the neck interferes with our body schema (a map providing awareness of the position of our body parts in relation to one another). An accurate body schema is critical for producing accurate and coordinated movement. Part of the brain called the cerebellum is really important for eye-hand coordination and adapting the position and movements of our body to maintain the correct representation of our body schema with respect to our changing visual experience as we look around. My work suggests that the altered neck input is affecting the way the cerebellum does its job. I am studying how changing sensory input from the neck, using neck muscle fatigue and awkward postures, affects SMI from the arm and how this affects the motor commands to the arm muscles. We are also looking at how the cerebellum integrates eye and hand movements. There are a number of common tasks in workplaces that require precise upper limb movements while the neck is in an awkward posture or is susceptible to fatigue, such as overhead work by mechanics or assembly line workers; or precision work by surgeons, dentists, and hygienists. On a daily basis we utilize the body schema to accurately reach for controls while driving, playing skilled sport or interacting with technology. Neck fatigue and/or altered neck postures are often present during these tasks. If altered neck input impacts the speed and accuracy of upper limb performance, it has the potential to lead to errors which impact the health and productivity of Canadian workers. The knowledge gained from this work will improve our understanding how neck fatigue and altered postures impact motor skill training and performance at work, sport and leisure. In our age of technology, this work has great potential to improve strategies for workplace and technology design to decrease injury risk and improve performance.

我们中的大多数人都有过伸手去拿一个物体却找不到的经历，或者有过在电脑上打字比平时多的日子。我们可能没有考虑到的是，这些经历可能是由于颈部的感觉输入改变而导致的感觉运动整合（SMI）改变的结果。SMI是中枢神经系统（CNS）整合来自不同身体部位的感觉信息并将适当的运动输出制定到肌肉的能力。在学习新技能以及在家庭和工作场所执行任务时，有效的SMI至关重要。然而，我们对改变颈部的感觉输入如何影响上肢的SMI知之甚少，这会影响大脑对运动的控制以及我们如何学习新的动作。最近我的实验室发现，颈部肌肉疲劳会削弱我们准确知道手臂在3D空间中位置的能力。我们还发现，由于疼痛或僵硬而导致颈部输入发生慢性变化的个体在学习新的运动技能方面表现更差，空间意识也更差。我们认为这是因为来自颈部的感觉输入的变化干扰了我们的身体图式（一种地图，提供了我们身体部位相互之间的位置意识）。准确的身体图式对于产生准确和协调的运动至关重要。大脑中被称为小脑的部分对于眼手协调以及调整我们身体的位置和运动非常重要，以保持我们身体图式的正确表示，以适应我们环顾四周时不断变化的视觉体验。我的研究表明，颈部输入的改变影响了小脑的工作方式。 我正在研究如何改变来自颈部的感觉输入，使用颈部肌肉疲劳和尴尬的姿势，影响来自手臂的SMI，以及这如何影响手臂肌肉的运动命令。我们也在研究小脑如何整合眼睛和手的运动。 工作场所中有许多常见的任务需要精确的上肢运动，而颈部处于尴尬的姿势或容易疲劳，例如机械师或装配线工人的高空作业;或外科医生，牙医和兽医的精密工作。每天，我们都利用身体图式在驾驶、进行熟练的运动或与技术互动时准确地达到控制。颈部疲劳和/或改变颈部姿势经常出现在这些任务。如果改变颈部输入影响上肢表现的速度和准确性，则有可能导致影响加拿大工人健康和生产力的错误。从这项工作中获得的知识将提高我们对颈部疲劳和姿势改变如何影响运动技能训练和工作，运动和休闲表现的理解。在我们的技术时代，这项工作有很大的潜力，以改善工作场所和技术设计的战略，以减少伤害风险和提高性能。