Characteristics of Human Postactivation Effect of Skeletal Muscles Using Spectral and Non-Linear Parameters of the Surface Electromyogram

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Abstract

Postactivation effect (PAE, postactivation phenomenon) is a specific type of involuntary muscle tone (tonic automatism) which is generated in the “tonogenic” structures of the brain, presumably without the “sensory copy” and “motor command” mechanisms. In this regard, the electromyogram (EMG) signal of PAE may have a simpler temporal signal structure compared to PAE-inducing voluntary activity. The purpose of this work is to characterize the temporal structure and complexity of surface EMG (sEMG) of the human deltoid and biceps brachii muscles using fractal (D) and correlation dimensions (Dc). It was found that in deltoid muscles the value of D was 1.78–1.81 both during PAE and voluntary effort (p > 0.05). Dc (approximately 4.0–4.2) also did not differ between PAE and voluntary effort, although the average frequency of the sEMG spectrum during PAE was 15–16 Hz (p < 0.05) higher compared to voluntary effort. In biceps brachii muscles, the D value was 1.8 during PAE and 1.62 during voluntary effort (p < 0.05). Dc values did not differ between PAE and voluntary contraction (4–4.8). Thus, despite the supposed difference in the central organization of PAE and voluntary effort, the temporal structure of their sEMG did not differ, indicating that isometric voluntary effort and involuntary tone in the form of PAE share a common principle of sEMG signal generation. At the same time, the differences in the frequency of the sEMG spectrum indicate that the organization of sEMG signal during PAE is specific on the level of the motoneuron pool.

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About the authors

A. Yu. Meigal

Petrozavodsk State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: meigal@petrsu.ru
Russian Federation, Petrozavodsk

A. E. Peskova

Petrozavodsk State University

Email: meigal@petrsu.ru
Russian Federation, Petrozavodsk

A. S. Sklyarova

Petrozavodsk State University

Email: meigal@petrsu.ru
Russian Federation, Petrozavodsk

L. I. Gerasimova-Meigal

Petrozavodsk State University

Email: meigal@petrsu.ru
Russian Federation, Petrozavodsk

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2. Fig. 1. Example of the postactivation effect (PAE) of the right (A) and left (B) deltoid muscles. The PAE began 7 s after the end of voluntary activity and continued synchronously in both muscles for 57 s. Time calibration is 5 s, electromyogram (EMG) amplitude is 500 μV. Horizontal lines indicate the location of the interference EMG sample collection for analysis (5 s).

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3. Fig. 2. Example of the postactivation effect (PAE) of the right biceps brachii. The PAE began 5 s after the end of voluntary activity and continued for 71 s. Time calibration was 5 s, electromyogram amplitude was 500 μV.

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4. Fig. 3. Example of post-activation effect (PAE) of deltoid muscles (A – right side, B – left side) with several “waves” of activity. The first wave was considered “near” PAE, the rest – “remote” PAE. Time calibration 5 s, EMG amplitude 500 μV.

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5. Fig. 4. Examples of the interference electromyogram (iEMG) signal during voluntary effort (A) and postactivation effect (PAE) (B) of the right deltoid muscle. For voluntary effort, the average spectrum frequency was 56.5 Hz, for PAE – 68.2 Hz. Time calibration was 100 ms, EMG amplitude was 250 μV.

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