Neuromechanical Control of Elastic Energy Storage and Recovery during Ballistic Movements

弹道运动期间弹性能量存储和恢复的神经机械控制

• 批准号: 0623791
• 负责人: Kiisa Nishikawa
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Northern Arizona University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-08-01 至 2010-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0623791&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Neuromechanical; Control; Elastic; Energy; Storage

Over the past 20 years, it has become increasingly clear that an understanding of biomechanics is necessary for understanding motor control. However, our knowledge of precisely how biomechanics influences the control of movement is still rudimentary. One obstacle to developing a deeper understanding of this problem is the sheer complexity of animal bodies. The number of muscles far exceeds the number of joints, and muscles may serve a variety of different functions in addition to their conventional roles as contractile and force-producing elements. The research proposed here uses ballistic tongue projection in toads as a model system to investigate the relationship between the biomechanics and neural control of movement. Ballistic tongue projection in toads is one of the fastest known movements, yet it shares many general features with typical vertebrate motor systems. Because it is relatively well understood, ballistic tongue projection in toads is a tractable model system for investigating the relationship between biomechanics and neural control. The fundamental idea of this proposal is to work backward from a predictive biomechanical model, toward an understanding of the design of the neural circuits that produce movement. The first goal of the proposed research is to develop a complete and predictive biomechanical model of elastic energy storage and recovery during ballistic tongue projection in toads. To complete the biomechanical modeling, the investigators will determine: (1) the force(s) that permit elastic energy storage, including co-activation of antagonistic muscles as well as passive mechanisms; and (2) the mechanical and neural events that permit recovery of elastic strain energy. The second goal of the proposed studies is to use present understanding of biomechanics to develop and test hypotheses about the design of the neural circuits that control ballistic tongue projection. Using neuroanatomical techniques, descriptions will be developed of the neural connections among proprioceptive sensory neurons, motor neurons, and the pre-motor neurons of the cerebellum and medial reticular formation that receive sensory input and control the activity of motor neurons. The proposed studies will provide insight into three important issues in the field of neuromechanics: (1) the contribution of antagonistic muscle contraction to motor control; (2) the structure of neural circuits for feed-forward control of movement, from sensory input to motor output; and (3) the neuroanatomical basis for muscle synergies. The broader impacts of this proposal include the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team, composed of a biomechanist, a behavioral neuroscientist, and a neuroanatomist. In addition, through support from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH), the proposed studies will provide opportunities for participation of underrepresented students, especially Hispanics and Native Americans.

在过去的20年中，人们越来越清楚地了解生物力学对于理解运动控制是必要的。但是，我们对生物力学如何影响运动控制的知识仍然是基本的。对这个问题的更深入了解的一个障碍是动物身体的纯粹复杂性。肌肉的数量远远超过关节的数量，除了作为收缩和产生力的元素的常规作用外，肌肉还可以发挥各种不同的功能。这里提出的研究使用蟾蜍中的弹道舌头投影作为模型系统，以研究生物力学和运动神经控制之间的关系。蟾蜍中的弹道舌头投影是已知最快的运动之一，但它与典型的脊椎动物运动系统具有许多一般特征。由于蟾蜍中的弹道舌头投影是相对较好的，是一种可拖动的模型系统，用于研究生物力学与神经控制之间的关系。该提案的基本思想是从预测生物力学模型倒退，以理解产生运动的神经回路的设计。拟议的研究的第一个目标是开发蟾蜍投影期间弹性能量储存和恢复的完整和预测性生物力学模型。为了完成生物力学建模，研究人员将确定：（1）允许弹性能量储存的力，包括拮抗肌肉的共激活以及被动机制； （2）允许恢复弹性应变能的机械和神经事件。拟议的研究的第二个目标是利用对生物力学的当前理解来开发和检验有关控制弹道舌头投影的神经回路设计的假设。使用神经解剖技术，将描述在本体感受性感觉神经元，运动神经元以及小脑和内侧网状形成的前运动神经元之间的神经联系，这些神经元和内侧网状形成接收感觉的感觉输入并控制运动神经元的活性。拟议的研究将洞悉神经力学领域的三个重要问题：（1）拮抗肌肉收缩对运动控制的贡献； （2）从感觉输入到电动机输出，用于运动的神经回路结构； （3）肌肉协同作用的神经解剖学基础。该提案的更广泛影响包括由生物力学，行为神经科学家和神经解剖学家组成的多学科团队的合作。此外，通过美国国家一般医学科学研究所（NIH）的支持，拟议的研究将为参与代表性不足的学生，尤其是西班牙裔和美洲原住民的参与提供机会。