Prof. Gregor Schöner and Dr. Lei Zhang, our supervisors from the Ruhr University Bochum, publushed 2 manuscripts in the Journal of NeuroPhysiology.
In the first manuscript published in June entitled “Inverting a model of neuromuscular control to estimate descending activation patterns that generate fast-reaching movements”, they observed how brain signals must be temporally structured to enable fast movement by estimating descending activation patterns directly from observed movement kinematics based on a model of the dynamics of the stretch reflex, of muscle force generation, and of the biomechanics of the limb.
In the latest publication published online few days ago entitled “Estimating descending activation patterns from EMG in fast and slow movements using a model of the stretch reflex”, they highlight the substantial contribution of spinal reflex loops to movement generation, while at the same time providing evidence that the brain must generate qualitatively different descending activation patterns for movements that vary in their mechanical dynamics.