The effect of muscle contraction on kinaesthesia.
Kinaesthesia is our conscious awareness of body position and movement. Experiments are described examining kinaesthetic acuity in human subjects. The results showed a reduced ability to detect limb movement and match limb position during co-contraction of elbow extensors and flexors compared to when these muscles were relaxed. We also report results from animal experiments showing a reduction in muscle spindle stretch sensitivity during fusimotor and skeletomotor activation, a factor that might contribute to the decreased kinaesthetic acuity observed during muscle contraction.
Wise
Andrew K
AK
Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia. wisea@mail.medoto.unimelb.edu.au
Fallon
James B
JB
D000818:Animals; D004550:Elbow / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007699:Kinesthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009470:Muscle Spindles / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009949:Orientation; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology