Unravelling neuromechanical constraints to finger independence

IF 1.9 3区心理学 Q4 NEUROSCIENCES

Human Movement Science Pub Date : 2026-06-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-12 DOI:10.1016/j.humov.2026.103481

Daanish M. Mulla , Paul M. Tilley , Peter J. Keir

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Intentional use of a single finger results in involuntary forces and movements among other fingers. Constraints to finger independence are attributed to both neural and mechanical factors, but the contribution of these factors is debated. We hypothesized that neural factors primarily constrain finger independence during isometric exertions whereas mechanical factors impose larger constraints during movements. We investigated changes in finger independence following a ring finger fatigue protocol. We assumed that with fatigue, the ability to actively transmit forces across fingers through neural pathways will be reduced but force transmission passively through mechanical pathways will remain unaffected. Participants performed isometric finger contractions and flexion-extension movements at baseline and following a ring finger fatigue protocol. At baseline, involuntary ring finger forces ranged from 7.3 to 16.5% MVC. Consistent with our predictions, involuntary ring finger forces decreased by 2.5–8.9% MVC following fatigue. In contrast, involuntary ring finger movement did not change or surprisingly in several cases, increased by greater than 10–20° following fatigue relative to baseline across movement tasks. Our findings demonstrate that the neuromechanical control of finger force versus motion are distinct from each other and can alter the constraints to finger independence in a task-dependent way.

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解开手指独立性的神经力学约束

故意使用单个手指会导致其他手指之间的不自主力量和运动。限制手指独立性归因于神经和机械因素，但这些因素的贡献是有争议的。我们假设神经因素主要约束手指在等距运动中的独立性，而机械因素在运动过程中施加更大的约束。我们研究了无名指疲劳治疗后手指独立性的变化。我们假设疲劳时，通过神经通路主动传递力的能力会降低，但通过机械途径被动传递力的能力不会受到影响。参与者在基线和无名指疲劳协议下进行等距手指收缩和屈伸运动。在基线时，无名指非自愿受力范围为7.3 - 16.5% MVC。与我们的预测一致，疲劳后无名指的非自愿受力降低了2.5-8.9%。相反，不自觉的无名指运动并没有改变，在一些情况下，相对于运动任务的基线，疲劳后无名指运动增加了10-20°以上。我们的研究结果表明，手指力与运动的神经机械控制彼此不同，可以以任务依赖的方式改变手指独立性的约束。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Human Movement Science 医学-神经科学

CiteScore

3.80

自引率

4.80%

发文量

审稿时长

42 days

期刊介绍： Human Movement Science provides a medium for publishing disciplinary and multidisciplinary studies on human movement. It brings together psychological, biomechanical and neurophysiological research on the control, organization and learning of human movement, including the perceptual support of movement. The overarching goal of the journal is to publish articles that help advance theoretical understanding of the control and organization of human movement, as well as changes therein as a function of development, learning and rehabilitation. The nature of the research reported may vary from fundamental theoretical or empirical studies to more applied studies in the fields of, for example, sport, dance and rehabilitation with the proviso that all studies have a distinct theoretical bearing. Also, reviews and meta-studies advancing the understanding of human movement are welcome. These aims and scope imply that purely descriptive studies are not acceptable, while methodological articles are only acceptable if the methodology in question opens up new vistas in understanding the control and organization of human movement. The same holds for articles on exercise physiology, which in general are not supported, unless they speak to the control and organization of human movement. In general, it is required that the theoretical message of articles published in Human Movement Science is, to a certain extent, innovative and not dismissible as just "more of the same."