Discharge characteristics of motor units during long contractions performed by young and old adults

Michael A. Pascoe1, Matthew R. Holmes1, Douglas G. Stuart2, and Roger M. Enoka1

1
179.23
Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, USA, 2Department of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA

Introduction 1. Experimental setup 3. Motor unit and task characteristics 6. Detrended fluctuation analysis
When a subject performs a submaximal voluntary Calculation of scaling exponent α
Sine wave
contraction for as long as possible, the mean Young Old 200
-0.2
Young
R2 = 0.99
discharge rate of motor units recruited at the onset of the Old

Time (ms)
(n = 24) (n = 5) mean = 98
-0.7
= 0.81
sd = 16
task decreases and the coefficient of variation for 100
α = 1.48

log F(n)
discharge times often increases (Carpentier et al., 2001; Task duration (min) 20.6 ± 17.9 8.2 ± 10.2 -1.2
0
R2 = 0.94
Mottram et al., 2005). Range (min) 1.2 – 65.2 0.9 – 25.8 -1.7 = 0.71

Mean force (% MVC) 5.4 ± 2.9 9.6 ± 7.8 Time series of interspike intervals
-2.2
In addition, it has been shown previously that detrended Fl
ex iF
o rc e
Interspike intervals per task 11,958 ± 9,887 4,852 ± 4,798
200 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
log (n)
fluctuation analysis (DFA) can identify subtle alterations

Time (ms)
mean = 98
Mean discharge rate (pps) 10.6 ± 1.9 11.6 ± 3.0 100 sd = 16
α = 0.73
in motor unit discharge patterns associated with aging Mean interspike interval (ms) 97.0 ± 15.6 92.1 ± 23.3 1.0 *
that are not always evident with conventional measures 0

Standard deviation of interspike interval (ms) 25.3 ± 5.3 25.0 ± 2.9

of variability (Jordan et al., 2008). 0.8

Index finger flexion force Coefficient of variation for interspike interval (%) 26.2 ± 6.3 28.2 ± 9.5 Time series of random numbers 0.6
200
Finewire EMG
0.80 0.74

Time (ms)
Surface EMG mean = 98 0.4
sd = 16
100 *P = 0.05
Index finger abduction force α = 0.49

Purpose
0.2

0 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600

To compare the discharge characteristics of motor units in 2. Sample data 4. Discharge characteristics over time Time (s) Young Old

young and old adults when the task was to sustain the Young Old
Beginning of long-duration task
discharge at a low rate for as long as possible. 12 0.16

Conclusions

Mean force (% MVC)

40 Instantaneous discharge rate 10

EMG amplitude (V)

0.12
pps 20 8

Methods 0
Discriminated action potentials
6 0.08
· Subjects were able to sustain a relatively constant discharge
2.5 4
0.04 rate based on audio feedback
P = 0.102 P = 0.815
The discharge times of single motor units were recorded V 0.0 2
-2.5 23 ms
0 0
from the first dorsal interosseus muscle in young (27.9 ±
7.4 yr) and old adults (80.5 ± 6.7 yr).
2.5 Finewire EMG 20% 40% 60% 60% 100% 20% 40% 60% 60% 100% · Cessation of the motor unit discharge was preceded by an
V 0.0 increase in relative variability of discharge rate
14 40 *

Mean discharge rate (pps)

-2.5
Surface EMG 12
Subjects exerted a low abduction force (6.1 ± 4.2% 1
· There were no differences in the relative variability of

CV for ISI (%)

10 30
maximum) with the left index finger. V 0
8 discharge rate between young and old adults
-1 20
9.8 Index finger abduction force 6

The task was to maintain the discharge of an isolated % MVC

4
P = 0.061 10 *P < 0.0001
· Discharge times were less regular for old adults
2
single motor unit for as long as possible. 0.0
0 0
10 s
20% 40% 60% 60% 100% 20% 40% 60% 60% 100%
Subjects received auditory feedback of the discharge
times and were asked to keep the rate relatively constant
40
End of long-duration task Time (% duration) Time (% duration)
References
pps 20

for the duration of the task.

0

2.5
5. Interspike interval histograms Carpentier A, Duchateau J, Hainaut K. Motor unit behaviour and contractile changes
during fatigue in the human first dorsal interosseus. J Physiol 534: 903-912, 2001.
The task was terminated when the motor unit stopped V 0.0
Jordan K, Pascoe MA, Riley ZA, Enoka RM. The regularity of motor unit discharge
discharging action potentials despite the ability of the -2.5
23 ms

during steady contractions can vary with age. Program No. 859.13. 2008 Neuroscience
350 mean ISI = 84.3 ± 20.3 1.6
subject to sustain the force for a further 60 s. 2.5
Meeting Planner. Washington DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2008. Online.
skewness = 1.19
V 0.0 kurtosis = 3.85
250 1.2
Mottram CJ, Jakobi JM, Semmler JG, Enoka RM. Motor-unit activity differs with

Skewness
Counts

-2.5
Flexion force about the metacarpophalangeal joint was load type during a fatiguing contraction. J Neurophysiol 93: 1381-1392, 2005.
1
0.8
monitored (FlexiForce A201 Sensor) and subjects were V 0
150

required to keep the flexion force minimal. -1 0.4 P = 0.489 Supported by

50
9.8

0
NIA R01 AG09000 to Roger M. Enoka SfN 2009
All motor units were recruited within 60 s of recovery. % MVC
0 50 100 150 200 NIA T32 AG000279 to Michael A. Pascoe
0.0
20% 40% 60% 60% 100%
Chicago
ISI (ms) Time (% duration) pascoe@colorado.edu - www.mikepascoe.com/cv
10 s