Investigation of the interaction between corticomuscular coherence, motor precision and perceived difficulty in wrist flexion and extension

• Main Author: Divekar, Nikhil Vishwas
• Other Authors: John, Lester R
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2014
• Subjects: Medicine
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/3379

Includes abstract. === Includes bibliographical references. === Recently, behavioural (motor precision) differences were reported between isometric wrist flexion and extension. Neurophysiological as well as clinical differences have also been reported between these antagonistic movements. Corticomuscular coherence (CMC), i.e. the frequency specific temporal coupling between the electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) recorded during isometric force production, reflects the functional connectivity between cortex and muscle. A single muscle (flexor digitorum superficialis) study suggests a positive correlation between 15-35 Hz (beta) CMC and motor precision of the muscle. Yet, no study has simultaneously compared CMC and motor precision between wrist flexion and extension. Task perceived difficulty, which is a perceptual variable, may influence both motor precision and CMC, but has not been studied yet. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the interaction between CMC, motor precision and perceived difficulty in isometric wrist flexion and extension tasks.