Trends in Neurosciences
Roles for perceived voluntary motor commands in motor control
Abstract
Voluntary contractions of skeletal muscles are accompanied by centrally generated motor ‘commands’ that ultimately result in descending inputs to motoneurone pools. Perceived motor commands influence the sensations of muscle force and timing, and can be accurately directed to individual distal muscles in the absence of feedback. In addition, they may also influence respiratory sensations and cardiorespiratory responses to muscular contraction. Data on the neural mechanisms underlying these motor commands suggest that they may be be generated differently according to the particular function subserved within the motor system.
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