STOCHASTIC RESONANCE IN HUMAN MUSCLE SPINDLES

描述(改编自申请人的摘要)：随机共振 是物理和生物系统中的一种现象，其中特定的 随机噪声水平提高了信号检测能力。在检测到 接近阈值时，随机噪声输入可以提高对小噪声的敏感性 通过将感受器提升到阈值以上来产生幅度信号。一种生物 可能从随机共振中受益的系统是 本体感觉系统，它为我们提供身体位置感和 有动静。随机共振可以增强运动时的本体感觉 是新奇的还是必须精确制作的。这项拨款中提议的实验 应用程序将研究随机共振在 感觉受体水平上的人类本体感觉系统和 感知水平。本体感觉最鲜为人知的一个方面 而运动控制是肌梭受体的传出激活， 协调运动的重要感官信息来源。 与典型的感觉感受器不同，肌梭既有传出神经，也有传出神经。 (“熔断马达”)和传入神经供应。的核心假说 提出的方案是随机共振是一种 纺锤马达系统激活肌梭。在引信马达期间 动作激活，如表演新颖或精确的动作时， 随之而来的梭内肌收缩可能提供低幅度， 随机噪声对接近阈值的肌梭受体的刺激。 随机共振机制可以将肌梭提升到阈值以上 频率更高，从而改进了信号检测。演示了 肌梭传入的随机共振对两者都有重要意义 既有理论原因，也有实践原因。在理论层面上，随机的 共振可以为尚未解决的马达问题提供解释 协调。也就是说，引信马达系统是如何增强信号的 本体感觉系统的检测特性。在实践层面上， 人体本体感觉系统中随机共振的论证 可能导致需要精确运动的机械手的改进设计， 例如在飞机控制中，以及用于 因糖尿病神经病变或正常衰老而失去感觉的人。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from the Applicant's Abstract): Stochastic resonance is a phenomenon in both physical and biological systems where a particular level of random noise improves signal detection. In systems where detection is near threshold, a random noise input can improve sensitivity to small amplitude signals by boosting the receptors above threshold. One biological system that could potentially benefit from stochastic resonance is the proprioceptive system, which provides us with the sense of body position and movement. Stochastic resonance could enhance proprioception when movements are novel or must be made precisely. The experiments proposed in this grant application will investigate the potential role of stochastic resonance in the human proprioceptive system at the level of sensory receptors and the level of perception. One of the least understood aspects of proprioception and motor control is the efferent activation of the muscle spindle receptor, an important source of sensory information for coordinating movement. Unlike typical sensory receptors, muscle spindles have both an efferent ("fusimotor") and an afferent nerve supply. The central hypothesis of the proposed project is that stochastic resonance is the mechanism with which the fusimotor system activates muscle spindles. During fusimotor activation, as with the performance of novel or precise movements, the ensuing contraction of intrafusal muscle might provide a low amplitude, random noise stimulus to muscle spindle receptors that are near threshold. A stochastic resonance mechanism could boost muscle spindles above threshold more frequently, thereby improving signal detection. The demonstration of stochastic resonance in muscle spindle afferents is significant for both theoretical and practical reasons. On a theoretical level, stochastic resonance could provide an explanation for an unresolved problem of motor coordination. That is, how the fusimotor system acts to enhance the signal detection properties of the proprioceptive system. On a practical level, the demonstration of stochastic resonance in the human proprioceptive system could lead to improved design of manipulators requiring precise movements, such as in aircraft controls, and sensory enhancement devices for individuals with sensory loss due to diabetic neuropathy or normal aging.