Increased gravitational force reveals the mechanical, resonant nature of physiological tremor
Journal article
Authors | Lakie, M., Vernooij, C. A., Osler, Callum J., Stevenson, A. T., Scott, J. P. R. and Reynolds, Raymond Francis |
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Abstract | Human physiological hand tremor has a resonant component. Proof of this is that its frequency can be modified by adding mass. However, adding mass also increases the load which must be supported. The necessary force requires muscular contraction which will change motor output and is likely to increase limb stiffness. The increased stiffness will partly offset the effect of the increased mass and this can lead to the erroneous conclusion that factors other than resonance are involved in determining tremor frequency. Using a human centrifuge to increase head-to-foot gravitational field strength, we were able to control for the increased effort by increasing force without changing mass. This revealed that the peak frequency of human hand tremor is 99% predictable on the basis of a resonant mechanism. We ask what, if anything, the peak frequency of physiological tremor can reveal about the operation of the nervous system. |
Keywords | Tremor |
Year | 2015 |
Journal | The Journal of Physiology |
Publisher | Wiley |
ISSN | 223751 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1113/JP270464 |
Web address (URL) | http://hdl.handle.net/10545/619128 |
hdl:10545/619128 | |
Publication dates | 10 Jan 2015 |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 31 Aug 2016, 13:15 |
Rights | Archived with thanks to The Journal of Physiology |
Contributors | University of Birmingham, UK, Aix-Marseille Universite, Marseille, France, University of Derby, UK, QinetiQ, Farnborough, UK, King’s College London, UK, Wyle GmbH, Koln, Germany, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences; University of Birmingham; UK, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences; University of Birmingham; UK, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences; University of Birmingham; UK, QinetiQ Aircrew Systems, Air Division; QinetiQ; Farnborough UK, Wyle GmbH; Köln Germany and School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences; University of Birmingham; UK |
File | File Access Level Open |
File | File Access Level Open |
https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/94948/increased-gravitational-force-reveals-the-mechanical-resonant-nature-of-physiological-tremor
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