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| Research article summary (published 13 Jan 2003): |
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Vestibular actions on back and lower limb muscles during postural tasks in man.
Full Abstract
The vestibular system was activated by galvanic electrical stimulation in 19 normal subjects. With the head turned to one side so that the stimulating anode was on the posterior mastoid process, stimulation caused standing subjects to sway backwards in the sagittal plane. Electromyography showed bilateral activation of erector spinae, gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, soleus and intrinsic foot (toe flexor) muscles. When head direction or electrode polarity was reversed so that the anode was anterior, all those muscles became less active and the subjects swayed forwards. With the head facing forward, stimulation caused sideways sway in the coronal plane, towards the anode, with excitation of the erector spinae on the anode side and reduced activity on the cathode side. The limb muscles were activated on the side opposite the anode and showed complex responses on the anode side. Responses were detectable in the erectores spinae muscles in sitting subjects. No responses in limb muscles were detected in the sitting posture. Subject responses in erector spinae recorded at L3/L4 had latencies from 59 to 110 ms, using a 2 mA stimulus. Latencies in lower limb muscles were longer. The results suggest a role for the vestibular system and descending brain stem motor pathways to the erectores spinae muscles in the control of postural orientation of the back when sitting and standing. The conduction velocity in the motor pathway was estimated to be 13 +/- 10 m s(-1) (mean +/- S.D., n = 12 subjects).
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Author information
Author/s: Ali, Alima S (AS); Rowen, Katherine A (KA); Iles, J F (JF);
Affiliation: Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Journal: The Journal of physiology (J Physiol), published in England. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2003-Jan; vol 546 (issue Pt 2) : pp 615-24
Dates: Created 2003/01/15; Completed 2003/07/30; Revised 2007/11/15;
PMID: 12527747, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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