2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Identification of significance of autonomic nerve activity affecting motor control system

Research Project

Project/Area Number	22680047
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Physical education
Research Institution	Kyoto University
Principal Investigator	KOUZAKI Motoki 京都大学, 人間・環境学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (30313167)
Project Period (FY)	2010-04-01 – 2014-03-31
Keywords	運動制御 / 自律神経活動 / 生理的振戦 / 静止立位 / 冷却刺激
Research Abstract	The purpose of the study is to identify the effects of autonomic nerve activity on motor control. Activation of autonomic nerve activity was elicited by cold stimulation which is that subject immersed a hand in cold water. Postural sway during quiet standing increased by cold stimulation, and main component of postural sway is physiological tremor. In addition, surface electromyogram activity of SOL has the rhythmical activity, and its activity generates physiological activity. To examine the relation between autonomic nerve activity and physiological tremor, effects of cold stimulation on motor performance in index finger during movement matching tasks were investigated. As a result, the fluctuations from 8-12 Hz of index finger movements in optimal direction increased by cold stimulation. These results suggest that autonomic nerve activity regulates motor control via muscle spindle sensitivity.