HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Aniss, A M Articles by Milne, R J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Aniss, A M Articles by Milne, R J

Department of Neurology, Prince Henry Hospital, School of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

1. This study examined the relationship between the perceived heaviness of a weight and reflexes acting on the motoneurones required for the contraction. The perceived heaviness of low (100 g) and high (500 g) reference weights lifted by the first dorsal interosseous muscle was estimated using a matching task. Weights were also lifted during stimulation of the digital nerves of the index finger at two times and four times sensory threshold (T). Averages of force and EMG were also made when isometric forces of 100 and 500 g were maintained. 2. Stimuli at 4T produced a significant increase in perceived heaviness in each subject for both reference weights. Averages of EMG made under isometric conditions showed a short-latency inhibition with a reflex reduction in force following single stimuli. This inhibition was also observed during weight lifting when trains of stimuli were given. 3. Stimuli at 2T produced less-marked changes in EMG, averaged force, and perceived heaviness for individual subjects. However, for the group of subjects, perceived heaviness declined significantly with 2T stimuli for the 500 g but not the 100 g weight. This decrease in perceived heaviness was associated with evidence of short-latency facilitation within the motoneurone pool. 4. Inhibition of the motoneurone pool was associated with an increase and facilitation with a decrease in perceived heaviness. These observations favour a role for a signal of centrally generated motor command in the sensation of heaviness and provide insight as to how this signal must change when reflex inputs change and when high-threshold motoneurones are recruited.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. C. Gandevia Spinal and Supraspinal Factors in Human Muscle Fatigue Physiol Rev, October 1, 2001; 81(4): 1725 - 1789. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]