Lateral dominance and motor unit firing behavior

Twelve subjects were classified as left-handed (LH) or right-handed (RH) using Annett's hand dominance classification. Motor unit recordings were obtained from the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle of each hand using a quadrifilar needle electrode. Firing occurrences of individual motor units were then identified and the firing rates of all motor units recorded during the contraction were cross-correlated. The results demonstrated significantly greater firing rate cross-correlation scores in the dominant hand than in the non-dominant hand for both LH and RH subjects. This association between hand dominance and the common drive of motor unit firing rates lends credence to the idea that one or more CNS sites may influence conjoint motor unit firing behavior.

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