A numeric study of the noise-induced tremor in a mathematical model of the stretch reflex.
A mathematical model of the stretch reflex for the cat soleus muscle is presented. The time-delay differential equations of the model are solved using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta algorithm, introducing a Gaussian-noise term to simulate the environmental noise. The muscle response dynamics are then studied under various levels of average muscle activation. Finally, the feasibility of explaining the so-called physiological tremor from the properties of the stretch reflex mechanisms is discussed by comparing our results with reported experimental evidence.
Santillán
Moisés
M
Departamento de Física, Escuela Superior de Física y Matemáticas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Edificio 9, U.P. Zacatenco, 07738, México DF, Mexico. moyo@esfm.ipn.mx
Hernández-Pérez
Ricardo
R
Delgado-Lezama
Rodolfo
R
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D008954:Models, Biological; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D012026:Reflex, Stretch / Q000502:physiology*; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D014202:Tremor / Q000503:physiopathology*