Influence of Perturbation Induced by an Anticipated Load on Human Motor Regulatory Systems

To investigate how human motor regulatory systems are modified by prior knowledge of a predictable external perturbation, six normal human subjects, each when sitting on a chair, were required to maintain a stable elbow flexion angle (90°) while different weight perturbations were applied (0.5-kg or 2-kg loads). Loads were applied either by the experimenter Without Anticipation or With Anticipation by the subject's own contralateral hand. Acceleration of the forearm movement (elbow extension and flexion) by loads and electromyograms (EMGs) of the biceps brachii (BB) and the triceps brachii (TB) muscle were recorded. Under With Anticipation conditions, preceding EMG activities of BB and TB muscles prior to the onset time of perturbation were clearly observed. Furthermore, the amount of these preceding EMG activities was larger in the heavy load perturbation than in the light load perturbation. Under Without Anticipation conditions, however, these preceding EMG activities were not observed. In the preceding EMG activities, EMG bursts (latency 20 msec.) of a presumed stretch reflex induced by the perturbation were clearly observed. Thus, the function of anticipatory adjustment of maintaining the elbow angle definitely appears to optimize limb stability in the case of the mechanical self-applied perturbation. Furthermore, the extent of the anticipatory adjustment of the elbow angle was dependent on the predicted magnitude of load.