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. 1975 Dec;38(12):1154–1162. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.38.12.1154

EMG analysis of stereotyped voluntary movements in man.

M Hallett, B T Shahani, R R Young
PMCID: PMC492181  PMID: 1219079

Abstract

EMG activity was recorded in biceps and triceps while subjects voluntarily flexed their elbows during a visual matching task. With fast flexion, the initial EMG was characterized by a triphasic pattern with a burst of activity first in biceps, then in triceps with a silent period in biceps, and finally in biceps again; these components were analysed quantitatively. Smooth flexion was characterized by continuous activity in biceps. Inhibition of tonic activity of triceps in relation to a fast flexion occurred in the 50 ms before the initiation of biceps activity. A patients with a severe pansensory neuropathy performed normally on these tasks. Physiological mechanisms underlying these patterns are analysed; an important conclusion is that the triphasic activity with fast flexion is 'centrally programmed'.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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