title: A surface EMG multi-electrode technique for characterizing muscle activation patterns in mice during treadmill locomotion.
abstract: In mice a new method for 2x4-channel surface electromyography (EMG) recordings of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris muscles during locomotion on a treadmill with varying speed is presented. The approach involves high-speed-videography (sampling interval 2.5 ms) in concert with the application of chronically implanted surface EMG multi-electrodes (EMG sampling rate 4000 Hz, frequency range 10-700 Hz). The recordings are started 2 days after surgery and finished 2 weeks after surgery. During the whole investigation period EMG recordings of both muscles have been possible. The monopolar EMG activities recorded by the electrode-arrays and the bipolar EMG signals derived from the monopolar activities permit an evaluation of the extent of myo-electrical activation in larger regions of both muscles and co-ordination between the flexor and extensor muscles. Bipolar EMG signals indicate propagation of activities along the muscle fibers and a slight effect of non-propagating signal components. Thus, the cross talk between these muscles is small and does not influence the evaluation of the EMG results. The resolution of the simultaneously recorded synchronized data allows a precise temporal correlation of kinematic and EMG parameters.
authors.affiliation: Motor Research Group, Institute of Pathophysiology and Pathobiochemistry, University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Erfurter Strasse 35, D-07740 Jena, Germany. hscho@moto.uni-jena.de
authors.forename: Hans Christoph
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Scholle
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biedermann
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arnold
authors.forename: Hyder Azad
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Jinnah
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grassme
authors.forename: Nikolaus Peter
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Schumann
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004566:Electrodes / Q000592:standards; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000502:physiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*