Age-associated differences in discharge

rate modulation of human motor units

Michael Pascoe
Neurophysiology of Movement Lab
Human Movement

Marey 1891
 Motor system

‣ Nervous system
‣ Muscular system

Muscle force
 Muscle force

‣ Manipulate environment
‣ Locomotion
‣ Maintain posture
‣ Facial expressions
‘Motor unit’

Motor neuron

Muscle fibers
 Synaptic Intrinsic
Input Properties

Motor neuron
Synaptic Intrinsic
Input Properties

Motor Unit Activity

Number Discharge
Active Rate

Muscle
Force
Motor Unit Activity

1) Number Active 2) Discharge Rate

Action potentials

A
Muscle force
B

Desmedt and Godaux 1977

Synaptic Intrinsic
Input Properties

Motor Unit Activity

Number Discharge
Active Rate

Muscle
Force
 Aging effects the motor system
900

750 ↓ Strength
600
Force (N)

450

300

150

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Age (yr)
Hunter et al. 1998
Aging effects the motor system

↓ Strength
↑ Disability
↓ Speed
↓ Independence
↓ Fine control
Aging effects the motor system

↓ Strength
↑ Disability
↓ Speed
↓ Independence
↓ Fine control
Assessing changes in the nervous
system with age
Synaptic Intrinsic Inaccessible in
Input Properties humans

Motor Unit Activity

Discharge
Number Discharge characteristics
Active Rate
 Dissertation Purpose

To examine the consequences of aging on

motor unit discharge characteristics
 Dissertation Projects
‣ To compare the discharge characteristics of
motor units in a small hand muscle of young and
old adults
‣ To compare the discharge characteristics of
motor units in biceps brachii of young and old
adults:
• during a sustained contraction
• while supporting a compliant load
 Dissertation Projects
‣ To compare the discharge characteristics of
motor units in a small hand muscle of young and
old adults
‣ To compare the discharge characteristics of
motor units in biceps brachii of young and old
adults:
• during a sustained contraction
• while supporting a compliant load
First dorsal interosseus
Index finger abduction

First dorsal interosseus

Muscle force

Wire electrode
 Experimental setup

Force transducer
Wire electrode
 Experimental setup

20 old adults
77 yrs

Force transducer
Wire electrode
 Experimental protocol

Wire electrode

Muscle force

11 s
 Motor unit discharge rate modulation
peak
25
Discharge rate (pps)

20

15 range
10

5
minimum
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Muscle force (% max)
Group data for young and old adults
40 Young (n = 38)
Old (n = 34)

30
Discharge rate (pps)

Young
20
Old

10 Young /
Old

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Muscle force(%MVC)
Finger force (% max) Moritz et al. 2005
 Range of discharge rate modulation was
reduced for old adults
*
15
peak - minimum (pps)

12

6 12.1

3 7.1

0
Young Old
 Summary
‣ Minimum discharge rates were similar
between young and old adults
‣ Peak discharge rates were reduced for old
adults
‣ Reduced range of discharge rate modulation
for old adults
 Dissertation Projects
‣ To compare the discharge characteristics of
motor units in a small hand muscle of young and
old adults
‣ To compare the discharge characteristics of
motor units in biceps brachii of young and old
adults:
• during a sustained contraction
• while supporting a compliant load
 Experimental setup

Wire electrode

Force transducer
 Experimental setup

11 old adults
79 yrs Wire electrode

Force transducer
 Ramp contraction
Wire electrode

Recruitment
threshold force =
40% max

Muscle force

10 s
Task 1

Small difference = ~5%

60 s
Task 2

Large difference = ~10%

60 s
 Old Young

Small

Large

Riley et al. 2008

 First 5 intervals for young and old adults

Young Old
*
20 40

Discharge variability (%)

Discharge rate (pps)

15 30

10 20

5 10

0 0
Small Large Small Large
 Summary
‣ Pattern of motor unit discharge was always
repetitive for old adults
‣ Discharge characteristics did not differ
between the small and large difference in
old adults
‣ Discharge variability differed between small
and large difference in young adults
 Dissertation Projects
‣ To compare the discharge characteristics of
motor units in a small hand muscle of young and
old adults
‣ To compare the discharge characteristics of
motor units in biceps brachii of young and old
adults:
• during a sustained contraction
• while supporting a compliant load
↑ Support = ↓ Compliance
 ↓ Support = ↑ Compliance

Wire electrode
Goniometer

Force transducer
 ↓ Support = ↑ Compliance

14 old adults Wire electrode

75 yrs Goniometer

16 young adults
28 yrs

Force transducer
 Motor unit discharge pattern
Repetitve Intermittent
Old Young

100% 100% 100% 100%

20% 20% 25%

40%
60% 75%
80% 80%

Small Large Small Large

 First 5 intervals for young and old adults

Young Old

15 * 40

Discharge variability (%)

Discharge rate (pps)

12
30

9
20
6

10
3

0 0
Small Large Small Large
 Summary
‣ A greater proportion of tasks demonstrated
repetitive activity for old adults
‣ Discharge characteristics did not differ
between the small and large difference in old
adults
‣ Discharge rate differed between small and
large difference in young adults
In conclusion...
Synaptic Intrinsic Numerous
Input Properties changes

↓ Modulation
Motor Unit Activity
Range
Number Discharge
Active Rate Pattern
First 5

Muscle
↓ Motor performance
Force
Dissertation Committee

Roger M. Enoka, Ph.D.

Alaa Ahmed, Ph.D.
Katrina Maluf, Ph.D.
David Sherwood, Ph.D.
Kenneth Wright, Ph.D.
Neurophysiology of Movement Lab
2003-2010
Neurophysiology of Movement Lab
2003-2010
Neurophysiology of Movement Lab
2003-2010

Roger Enoka,
Ph.D.
National Institute
on Aging
Thank you
Synaptic Intrinsic Numerous
Input Properties changes

Range
Motor Unit Activity
Pattern
Number Discharge
First 5
Active Rate
↓ Modulation

Muscle
↓ Motor performance
Force
Michael Pascoe
Dissertation Defense
Atlas 100