Skip to main content

What Can Be Learned About Motoneurone Properties from Studying Firing Patterns?

  • Chapter
Sensorimotor Control of Movement and Posture

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 508))

Abstract

The discharge patterns of tonically-firing neurones are influenced by both the characteristics of their presynaptic input and their intrinsic properties. The regularity of the discharge of motoneurones is thought to reflect their prominent post-spike afterhyperpolarization (AHP). When a motoneurone fires at steady mean rate, the distribution of interspike intervals is determined by the amplitude and frequency content of the synaptic noise together with the decrease in excitability following a spike due to AHP. This paper considers how motoneurone discharge statistics can be used to estimate AHP trajectories as well as a motoneurone’s sensitivity to excitatory input.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 299.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Clamann, P. H., 1969, Statistical analysis of motor unit firing patterns in a human skeletal muscle, Biophysical Journal, 9, 1233–1251.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kernell, D., 1965, The limits of firing frequency in cat lumbosacral motoneurones possessing different time course of afterhyperpolarization, Acta Physiologica Scandinavica, 65, 87–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews,P. B. C., 1996, Relationship of firing intervals of human motor units to the trajectory of post-spike after-hyperpolarization and synaptic noise, Journal of Physiology, 492, 597–628.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, P. B. C., 1999, The effect of firing on the excitability of a model motoneurone and its implications for cortical stimulation, Journal of Physiology, 518, 867–882.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Person, R. S., and Kudina, L. P, 1972, Discharge frequency and discharge pattern of human motor units during voluntary contraction of muscle, Electroencephalography & Clinical Neurophysiology, 32, 471–483.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Piotrkiewicz, M., 1999, An influence of afterhyperpolarization on the pattern of motoneuronal rhythmic activity, Journal de Physiologie, 93, 125–133.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinsky, P. F., and Rinzel, J., 1994, Intrinsic and network rhythmogenesis in a reduced Traub model for CA3 neurons, Journal of Computer Neuroscience,I, 39–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poliakov, A. V., Powers, R. K., and Binder, M. D., 1997, Functional identification of the input-output transforms of motoneurones in the rat and cat, Journal of Physiology, 504, 401–424.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Powers, R. K., and Binder, M. D., 2000, Relationship between the time course of the afterhyperpolarization and discharge variability in cat spinal motoneurones, Journal of Physiology, 528, 131–150.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tokizane, T., and Shimazu, H., 1964, Functional Differentiation of Human Skeletal Muscle, University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turker, K. S., 1995, The shape of the membrane potential trajectory in tonically-active human motoneurons, Journal of Electromyography & Kinesiology, 5, 3–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turker, K. S., and Powers, R. K., 2001, The effect of motoneuron discharge rate on synchronization, Society for Neuroscience, Abstract, 27, 625.9.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Powers, R.K., Türker, K.S., Binder, M.D. (2002). What Can Be Learned About Motoneurone Properties from Studying Firing Patterns?. In: Gandevia, S.C., Proske, U., Stuart, D.G. (eds) Sensorimotor Control of Movement and Posture. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 508. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0713-0_24

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0713-0_24

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5206-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0713-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics