Task-specific motor units in the extrinsic hand muscles control single- and multidigit tasks of the human hand

Oßwald M, Cakici A, Souza de Oliveira D, Braun D, Farina D, Del Vecchio A (2025)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Book Volume: 138

Pages Range: 1187-1200

Journal Issue: 5

DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00911.2024

Abstract

Movements of the hand require a precise distribution of synaptic inputs to spinal motor neurons innervating intrinsic and extrinsic hand muscles. Humans can generate complex multidigit tasks as well as separate motions of individual digits. The specific mechanisms by which the central nervous system controls multidigit and single-digit tasks on a motor neuron level remain poorly understood. We recorded synchronized three-dimensional hand kinematics and high-density surface electromyographic data from extrinsic hand muscles, including all extrinsic thumb and digit flexors and extensors. Twelve participants each performed 13 dynamic periodic single-digit flexion and extension- and multidigit grasping tasks for 45 s per task. Multidigit tasks were composed of combinations of the performed single-digit tasks. We decoded single motor unit (MU) activity from 7.8 ± 1.8 MUs (means ± SD) per task and participant in all muscles and identified MUs across tasks. For single-digit tasks, as expected, the activity of some MUs was associated with digit kinematics (task-modulated MUs), whereas other MUs discharged in a tonic way with little modulation of their discharge rate. MUs showed task-modulated activity only for one specific single digit. Moreover, a relatively small proportion of task-modulated MUs active during single-digit tasks could be identified during the multidigit grasping tasks [median 7.5%, interquartile range (IQR) 2.2%–15.0%]. Similarly, only few task-modulated MUs were identified in more than one multidigit task (median 3.6%, IQR 0%–18.4%). These results indicate a high task specificity in the control of MUs determining hand motions.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Imperial College London / The Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine United Kingdom (GB)

How to cite

APA:

Oßwald, M., Cakici, A., Souza de Oliveira, D., Braun, D., Farina, D., & Del Vecchio, A. (2025). Task-specific motor units in the extrinsic hand muscles control single- and multidigit tasks of the human hand. Journal of Applied Physiology, 138(5), 1187-1200. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00911.2024

MLA:

Oßwald, Marius, et al. "Task-specific motor units in the extrinsic hand muscles control single- and multidigit tasks of the human hand." Journal of Applied Physiology 138.5 (2025): 1187-1200.

BibTeX: Download