Recurrence quantification analysis of surface electromyogram supports alterations in motor unit recruitment strategies by anodal transcranial direct current stimulation
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: PURPOSE: Recent evidence indicates that anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can selectively alter the EMG/force relationship of agonist arm muscles; however, the mechanisms mediating those changes are less clear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of anodal tDCS on motor unit synchronization by using a sophisticated non-linear EMG analysis called recurrence quantification analysis (RQA). METHODS: Surface EMG signals were collected from the biceps brachii muscle of eighteen healthy young adults (9 tDCS and 9 control) at various force levels (12.5%, 25%, 37.5%, and 50% maximum) before and after the application of anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex. RQA was employed to quantify the changes in percentage of determinism (% DET) and laminarity (% LAM) of the surface EMG signals, which are surrogate measures of motor unit synchronization. RESULTS: RQA analyses indicated that the changes in % DET and % LAM scores were significantly higher in the tDCS group than in the control group (p < 0.05) and this effect was particularly pronounced at higher force levels. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide novel evidence supporting that anodal tDCS significantly alters motor unit firing strategies (i.e., the degree of synchronization) of the biceps brachii muscle.
DOI: 10.3233/rnn-140469
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2238635322