Separating background activity from noise in EMG using a neuromuscular model

To objectively diagnose the severity of spasticity, it is important to measure the muscle activity accurately. Filtered EMG has an offset above zero which is part noise and part background activity. The goal of this study is to separate these two parts, using a non-linear neuromuscular ankle model. The model uses positional and EMG data as...

Modulation of stretch reflexes to environmental dynamics and perturbation properties

Reflexes and co-contraction are the two mechanisms used for effective limb control when humans face unexpected perturbations in their daily activities. When the environment has reduced stability margins, reflexes are tempered due to the oscillations caused by the neural time delay of the reflexive pathways. An explanation is that reflexes adapt...

Analysis and Detection of Neural Synchrony in the Prefrontal Cortex

Signal Analysis techniques are routinely used in Neuroscience to interpret raw signals harvested from the Nervous System. From a simple Fourier analysis to more complicated methods such as multiresolution wavelet analysis, such techniques must be used for signal manipulation in order to reach informed conclusions on the measurements taking place...

A history of distal radius fracture disturbs processing of sensory feedback without influencing neuromuscular control in the wrist joint

A distal radius fracture (DRF) is one of the most common fractures, especially in older women. Previous research shows that a DRF disturbs sensorimotor functions even eight weeks after finished treatment, which could influence neuromuscular control. The neuromuscular system exists of a sensory, motor and integration part, which all interact with...

EEG correlates of motor skill learning: an independent component approach

Motor learning is a vital ability of the human brain in which multiple cortical areas like the primary motor cortex are involved. One way to investigate the fast motor learning brain dynamics is with use of electroencephalography (EEG). This non-invasive and mobile technique records continuous electrical activity on the brain cortex with a high...

The vestibular drive for standing balance control is dependent on sensory cues of gravity

By monitoring head movement and orientation in space, the vestibular system can evoke appropriate muscle responses in order to maintain standing balance. The present study investigates whether vestibular-evoked muscle responses are dependent on sensory cues of gravity by examining these responses across varying load and gravity conditions....

SOMNUS: An Ultra-Wideband Radar-Based Approach for Neonatal Sleep State Classification

Recently, there has been an increasing awareness of the critical role of sleep for the brain development of young infants. During the early neonatal stages of human development, the basic activity of the brain is to develop itself during sleep. Prolonged sleep is required in infants for further development of the nervous system. Sleep also plays...

Nonlinearity in the Light Processing of the Human Visual System

Visual evoked potentials, i.e responses to visual stimulation as recorded using electroencephalography have indicated the existence of nonlinear behavior of the visual pathway. Nonlinearities and time delay in the visual system play an important role in understanding the complex nature of the visual system. This study investigated the nonlinear...