Feedback about isometric force production yields more random variations

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2012.02.002

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 513, Issue 1, 28 March 2012, Pages 37-41

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2012.02.002 Get rights and content

Abstract

We investigated the relation between visual feedback and the degree of structure versus randomness in the variability of single-digit, isometric force output. Participants were instructed to maintain a constant level of force during the presence or absence of visual feedback about force output. The structure of force output variability was quantified using spectral analysis and detrended fluctuation analysis. Both analyses revealed that force output was less structured (more random) when visual feedback was available than when it was not. More random performance variation seemed to reflect a corrective strategy in the control of action.

Highlights

► We investigated the effects of visual feedback on force production. ► We quantified and analyzed the structure of variability in force production. ► Visual feedback yields more unsystematic variations during finger force production. ► A task constraint like visual feedback seems to promote a corrective mode of control for action. ► The increase in unsystematic variation seems to be accompanied by corrective strategy in the control of action.

Section snippets

Acknowledgments

Supported by NSF grants BCS-0926662 and BCS-0728743. The authors would like to thank Nikita Kuznetsov.

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In the present study, we examined the role of sensorimotor integration in the use of visual feedback to increase motor complexity by measuring the effect of visual feedback on the complexity of the EEG signal during a precision motor task. Importantly, we replicated previous findings that motor complexity increases and motor error decreases when visual feedback is provided during precision movement tasks [7–10,45,46]. We did not find evidence of learning effects in motor performance or motor complexity.
Complex motor behavior is believed to be dependent on sensorimotor integration – the neural process of using sensory input to plan, guide, and correct movements. Previous studies have shown that the complexity of motor output is low when sensory feedback is withheld during precision motor tasks. However, much of this research has focused on motor behavior rather than neural processing, and therefore, has not specifically assessed the role of sensorimotor neural functioning in the execution of complex motor behavior. The present study uses a stimulus-tracking task with simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) recording to assess the effect of visual feedback on motor performance, motor complexity, and sensorimotor neural processing in healthy adults. The complexity of the EEG signal was analyzed to capture the information content in frequency bands (alpha and beta) and scalp regions (central, parietal, and occipital) that are associated with sensorimotor processing. Consistent with previous literature, motor performance and its complexity were higher when visual feedback was provided relative to when it was withheld. The complexity of the neural signal was also higher when visual feedback was provided. This was most robust at frequency bands (alpha and beta) and scalp regions (parietal and occipital) associated with sensorimotor processing. The findings show that visual feedback increases the information available to the brain when generating complex, adaptive motor output.
Adapting relative phase of bimanual isometric force coordination through scaling visual information intermittency
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Visual information plays an adaptive role in the relation between bimanual force coupling and error corrective processes of isometric force control. In the present study, the evolving distribution of the relative phase properties of bimanual isometric force coupling was examined by scaling within a trial the temporal feedback rate of visual intermittency (short to long presentation intervals and vice versa). The force error (RMSE) was reduced, and time-dependent irregularity (SampEn) of the force output was increased with greater amounts of visual information (shorter intermittency). Multi-stable coordination patterns of bimanual isometric force control were differentially shifted toward and away from the intrinsic dynamics by the changing the intermittency of visual information. The distribution of Hilbert transformed relative phase values showed progressively a predominantly anti-phase mode under less intermittent visual information to predominantly an in-phase mode with limited (almost no) visual information. Correlation between the hands showed a continuous reduction, rather than abrupt “transition,” with increase in visual information, although no mean negative correlation was realized, despite the tendency towards an anti-phase distribution. Lastly, changes in both the performance outcome and bimanual isometric force coordination occurred at visual feedback rates faster than the minimal visual processing times established from single limb movement and isometric force protocols.
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DFA analysis demonstrated that without visual feedback the DFA exponent was greater than that with visual feedback for both the CTS and control groups, suggesting that absence of visual feedback reduced the structural variability of pinch forces (Athreya et al., 2012; Li et al., 2013a). This finding corroborates previous studies demonstrating that visual feedback altered the time-dependent properties of force variability during a sustained contraction by a single digit (Athreya et al., 2012; Hong and Newell, 2008; Sosnoff and Newell, 2005) or during pinch with the thumb and index finger (Deutsch and Newell, 2002, 2003; Li et al., 2013a; Vaillancourt et al., 2001). Higher irregularity of pinch force under the visual condition is probably attributed to visual-guided force correction; whereas the central nervous system exerts a less fluctuated muscle contraction in the absence of this visuomotor correction (Athreya et al., 2012; Baweja et al., 2009).
The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) on digit force control during a sustained precision pinch.
Eleven CTS individuals and 11 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers participated in the study. The subjects were instructed to isometrically pinch an instrumented apparatus for 60 s with a stable force output. Visual feedback of force output was provided for the first 30 s but removed for the remaining 30 s. Pinch forces were examined for accuracy, variability, and inter-digit correlation.
CTS led to a decrease in force accuracy and an increase in amount of force variability, particularly without visual feedback (p < 0.001). However, CTS did not affect the structure of force variability or force correlation between digits (p > 0.05). The force of the thumb was less accurate and more variable than that of the index finger for both the CTS and healthy groups (p < 0.001).
Sensorimotor deficits associated with CTS lead to inaccurate and unstable digit forces during sustained precision pinch.
This study shed light on basic and pathophysiological mechanisms of fine motor control and aids in development of new strategies for diagnosis and evaluation of CTS.
Removal of visual feedback lowers structural variability of inter-digit force coordination during sustained precision pinch
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Previous studies have reported that in a constant isometric contraction by a single digit, the visual feedback condition can influence the structural variability of the fingertip force. Visual display with increased intermittency or with increased visual-force gain raised the irregularity of the force structures [7,8,15], whereas completely withdrawing visual information reduced the force structure variations [1]. These findings demonstrate that digit force variability during a constant contraction is not fully determined by the activation of motor units in the peripheral nervous system, but also related to visuomotor modulation of the central nervous system [18].
This study examined the effects of visual feedback on inter-digit force coordination during a precision pinch. Sixteen healthy, right-handed subjects were instructed to pinch an instrumented apparatus for 1 min with a stable force output. Visual feedback was provided for the first 30 s and withdrawn for the second 30 s. Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) and detrended cross-correlation analysis (DCCA) methods were used to quantify the time-dependent structures of each digit's force and of the force correlation between the digits. After removing visual feedback, the DFA scaling exponent, α_DFA, increased from 1.10 ± 0.12 to 1.29 ± 0.13 for the thumb and from 0.95 ± 0.08 to 1.33 ± 0.13 for the index finger (F_1,95 = 372.47, p < 0.001); the DCCA scaling exponent, α_DCCA, increased from 1.00 ± 0.08 to 1.33 ± 0.13 (t₉₅ = 20.33, p < 0.001). Structural changes were observed beginning with the first 5 s epoch after the removal of visual feedback. The results provide evidence that removing visual feedback lowers the structural variability of inter-digit force coordination. This change is reflected in the high-level control strategy, resulting in the two digits being more tightly coupled under somatosensory feedback without visual inputs.
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View full text

Feedback about isometric force production yields more random variations

Abstract

Highlights

Section snippets

Acknowledgments

Gait Post.

J. Math. Psychol.

J. Exp. Child Psychol.

Neurosci. Lett.

Hum. Mov. Sci.

Fractal Physiology

Removal of visual feedback alters muscle activity and reduces force variability during constant isometric contractions

Exp. Brain Res.

Evaluating scaled window variance methods for estimating the Hurst coefficient of time series

Physica A

The embodiment of time estimation

Multiscale entropy analysis of physiologic time series

Phys. Rev. Lett.

The 1- to 2-Hz oscillations in muscle force are exacerbated by stress, especially in older adults

J. Appl. Physiol.

Methodological issues in the application of monofractal analyses in psychological and behavioral research

Nonlin. Dyn. Psychol. Life Sci.

Physiological time series: distinguishing fractal noises from motion

Pflügers Arch.: Eur. J. Physiol.

Fractal dynamics of human gait: stability of long-range correlations in stride interval fluctuation

J. Appl. Physiol.

Fractal 1/f dynamics suggest entanglement of measurement and human performance

J. Exp. Psychol. Hum. Percept Perform.

Visual information gain and the regulation of constant force levels

Exp. Brain Res.