The Origin of Electromyograms - Explanations Based on the Equilibrium Point Hypothesis

In the present chapter, we review and further develop the equilibrium-point (EP) hypothesis or λ model for single and multi-joint movements (Feldman 1974, 1986; cf. Chapters 11, 13–22). A departure point is the notion of the measure of the central control signals underlying movement production. According to the EP hypothesis, central commands parameterize the threshold of motorneuron (MN) recruitment. The usual assumption that central signals are directly associated with muscle activation, i.e. recruitment of MNs and their firing frequencies, is rejected (see also Bernstein, 1967). This assumption ignores the role of muscle afferents in motor control as well as the non-linear threshold properties of MNs. In this chapter, we discuss electromyographic (EMG) patterns of single- and multi-joint movements in terms of the EP hypothesis.

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