Neuromuscular-skeletal constraints on the acquisition of skill in a discrete torque production task

Jonathan Shemmell; Matthew Forner; Benjamin Tathem; James R Tresilian; Stephan Riek; Benjamin K Barry; Richard G Carson

doi:10.1007/s00221-006-0547-y

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Neuromuscular-skeletal constraints on the acquisition of skill in a discrete torque production task

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Neuromuscular-skeletal constraints on the acquisition of skill in a discrete torque production task

Jonathan Shemmell, Matthew Forner, Benjamin Tathem, James R Tresilian, Stephan Riek, Benjamin K Barry and Richard G Carson

Experimental Brain Research, Vol.175(3), pp.400-410

2006

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-006-0547-y

PMID: 17006690

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-006-0547-yView

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Abstract

Torque

Motor Skills - physiology

Conditioning (Psychology) - physiology

Efferent Pathways - physiology

Humans

Adaptation, Physiological - physiology

Male

Muscle, Skeletal - innervation

Muscle, Skeletal - physiology

Elbow Joint - innervation

Biomechanical Phenomena

Elbow Joint - physiology

Models, Biological

Adult

Female

Isometric Contraction - physiology

The organisation of the human neuromuscular-skeletal system allows an extremely wide variety of actions to be performed, often with great dexterity. Adaptations associated with skill acquisition occur at all levels of the neuromuscular-skeletal system although all neural adaptations are inevitably constrained by the organisation of the actuating apparatus (muscles and bones). We quantified the extent to which skill acquisition in an isometric task set is influenced by the mechanical properties of the muscles used to produce the required actions. Initial performance was greatly dependent upon the specific combination of torques required in each variant of the experimental task. Five consecutive days of practice improved the performance to a similar degree across eight actions despite differences in the torques required about the elbow and forearm. The proportional improvement in performance was also similar when the actions were performed at either 20 or 40% of participants' maximum voluntary torque capacity. The skill acquired during practice was successfully extrapolated to variants of the task requiring more torque than that required during practice. We conclude that while the extent to which skill can be acquired in isometric actions is independent of the specific combination of joint torques required for target acquisition, the nature of the kinetic adaptations leading to the performance improvement in isometric actions is influenced by the neural and mechanical properties of the actuating muscles.

Details

Title: Neuromuscular-skeletal constraints on the acquisition of skill in a discrete torque production task
Authors: Jonathan Shemmell (Author) - University of Queensland
Matthew Forner (Author) - University of Queensland
Benjamin Tathem (Author) - University of Queensland
James R Tresilian (Author) - University of Queensland
Stephan Riek (Author) - University of Queensland
Benjamin K Barry (Author) - University of Queensland
Richard G Carson (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: Experimental Brain Research, Vol.175(3), pp.400-410
Publisher: Springer
DOI: 10.1007/s00221-006-0547-y
ISSN: 1432-1106
PMID: 17006690
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Graduate Research School
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99472601702621
Output Type: Journal article

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