Not always obeying the command of the brain

Did you know that neurons must also ' shout ' to motivate muscles to move!

According to researcher Christopher Knight, an associate professor at the University of Delaware's department of medical science, when we become older, neurons (neurons - they help convey commands from the brain) must also ' emit ' with stronger intensity to stimulate the muscles to move.

Associate Professor Knight said that because of age-related changes in muscles and nerve cells, older people often feel frustrated because of the inability to control their work correctly and possible reactions. The slow nature contributes to many other declines when people become older.

Knight and co-researcher Dr. Gary Kamen, who runs the University of Massachusetts neuroscience science science laboratory, has published research results on the rate of motor unit movement on journals. Applied Physiology , Knight is currently working on a new project that focuses on studying motor control in the elderly. Both studies are funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The electrode with four small metal threads attached to the muscle of the index finger does not cause pain to record the electrical impulses of individual neurons or nerve cells.(Photo: Sciencedaily)

The ultimate goal is to improve the mobility of older people as well as patients with disorders such as cerebral palsy, multiple hardening or recovery after stroke, Dr. said."Each of your movements can be created through a special central control communication system in the brain, spinal cord, billions of nerve cells, and thousands of muscle fibers."

According to Knight, it is precisely the driving force behind movements , every time we receive orders from neurons, muscle fibers contract and during the generation of muscle force, there is the smallest control unit of individual neurons and muscle fibers that stimulate it. Very important research helps identify mechanisms for general motor control and recovery control in most patients.

Right on the fingertips, we can easily identify information between nerve and muscle cells, as well as how to change when people get older.

At the Human Performance laboratory, with a Knight experiment tool and its students observed muscle forces on a small scale in the index finger, namely on the skeletal muscle in the middle of the back of the hand, located in the middle index finger and thumb, this muscle consists of 120 motor units, 120 individual neurons, and muscle fibers that help activate.

He said: "It is a relatively simple muscle, so you can see each link between neuron activity and muscle force ." 23 people from 18 to 88 years old participated in this study.

With a painless procedure, each individual is attached to the muscle of the index finger with a small needle-like electrode with 4 metallic fibers. The electrode is connected to a computer to record electrical impulses as they migrate from nerve cells to muscle fibers.

When the index finger is held firmly in a safety belt, each individual is asked to use the index finger to follow the outline of a sinusoidal curve with vertices and spots on the computer screen.

Knight has recorded a lot of force because the higher rate of corresponding release of neurons is acted just before you start to turn your finger up to the top and then reduce it again and head toward the muzzle. Once the images are recorded in a position on the muscle, the electrode is repositioned to test in other motor units on the muscle.

Knight and graduate student Dhiraj Poojari with interns Maria Bellumori, Christopher Martens analyzed data on the frequency and amplitude of the fire rate with a lengthy process that he hoped could be automated in the future by continuing to develop software programs that categorize double explosions, and short periods when neurons emit faster and shorter periods of activity.

The study results show that the rate of development in older people is in contrast to young people, ie the ability to ' listen ' to muscle fibers and respond to neurological orders.

Knight added: "Repetitive muscle contraction is necessary for movements like walking, but the ability to contract our muscles will be reduced or jerky when we get older and then we will lose. fast twitch muscle fibers ".

However, according to Dr., there are many steps for us to protect this muscle's mobility. After having an electrical impact, we can see an increase in the speed of release, and for safety he recommends doing these things slowly, but it is also necessary to do quick exercises. You need to move quickly to prevent the fall. In the elderly, some manual resistance exercises can be used to improve movement speed.

Knight always pays attention to the way the body adapts to the exercise. Years ago when he took college entrance exams, his goal was to become a track and field athlete, and while he did it perfectly, he realized that his dream was is academic and he tried to focus his energy on it.

At the University of Connecticut, in a study of brain students he felt attracted to the nervous system and moved. And he was even more attracted during the summer experiment when he had the opportunity to work with wheelchair athletes.

Knight said: "Severe spinal cord injuries are limited to cooling because they cannot sweat right below the injury site, so the internal temperature can reach a dangerous level."

And after graduating, Knight decided to pursue a motor control study.

He said: " I used to be interested in sports but for me now this work along with that knowledge will help more people, the exercises are still the methods to improve and the old age. will link us together. "

Currently Knight is in need of healthy elderly people aged 70 or older as well as those with Parkinson's disease (muscle tremor and weakness) or multiple sclerosis for his next study, you can contact him for more information. Information at http://www.udel.edu/ or (302) 831-6175.

Anh Phuong