Effect of temporal and spatial asymmetries to the neuromuscular control of the lower limbs during stationary cycling

Abstract

Motor adaptations are useful for studying the way in which the lower limbs are controlled by the brain. However, motor adaptation paradigms for the lower limbs are typically based on locomotion tasks, where the necessity of maintaining postural stability is the main driver of adaptation and could possibly mask other underlying processes. In this study we investigated whether small temporal or spatial asymmetries can trigger motor adaptations during stationary cycling, where stability is not directly compromised. Fourteen healthy individuals participated in two experiments: in one of the experiments the angle between the crank arms of the pedals was altered by 10{degrees} to induce a temporal asymmetry; in the other the length of the right pedal was shortened by 2.4 cm to induce a spatial asymmetry. We recorded the acceleration of the crank arms and the EMG signals of 16 muscles (8 per leg). The analysis of the accelerometer data was used to investigate the presence of motor adaptations. Muscle synergy analysis was performed on each side to quantify changes in neuromuscular control. We found that feedforward motor adaptations are present in response to temporal asymmetries and are obtained by progressively shifting the activation patterns of two synergies on the right leg. Spatial asymmetries appear to trigger a feedback-driven response that does not present an aftereffect and is not consistent with a motor adaptation. This response is characterized by a step-like decrease in activity in the right gastrocnemius when the asymmetry is present and likely reflects the altered task demands.\n\nNew and NoteworthyThe processes driving lower limb motor adaptations are not fully clear, and previous research appears to indicate that adaptations are mainly driven by stability. Here we show that lower limb adaptations can be obtained also in the absence of an explicit balance threat. We also show that adaptations are present also when kinematic error cannot be compensated for, suggesting the presence of intrinsic error measures regulating the timing of activation of the two legs.