Volume 21, Issue 10 pp. 1338-1340
Short Report

Firing rate analysis using decomposition-enhanced spike triggered averaging in the quadriceps femoris

Robin A. Conwit MD

Corresponding Author

Robin A. Conwit MD

Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA

Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USASearch for more papers by this author
Brian Tracy MS

Brian Tracy MS

Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA

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Alison Cowl BA

Alison Cowl BA

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA

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Megan McHugh MS

Megan McHugh MS

Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA

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Dan Stashuk PhD, PEng

Dan Stashuk PhD, PEng

Department of Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

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William F. Brown MD, FRCP(C)

William F. Brown MD, FRCP(C)

Neuromuscular Division, New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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E. Jeffrey Metter MD

E. Jeffrey Metter MD

National Institute on Aging, Gerontology Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

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Abstract

Electromyographic signals detected from the quadriceps femoris during various constant force contractions were decomposed to identify individual motor unit discharges and mean firing rates (FRs). Subject and group mean FRs were calculated for each force level. Mean FR values and FR variability increased with force. Individual, subject, and group mean FRs showed slight increases until 30% of maximum voluntary contraction and larger increases thereafter. Findings are discussed in relation to motor unit recruitment, frequency modulation, and fatigue. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 21:1338–1340, 1998.

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