And Yet It Moves: What We Currently Know about Phantom Arm Movements

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 328-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugenio Scaliti ◽  
Emanuele Gruppioni ◽  
Cristina Becchio
Keyword(s):  
Arm Movements ◽  
Arm Movement ◽  
Phantom Limb ◽  
Voluntary Movements ◽  
Limb Movements ◽  
The Real ◽  
Cortical Level ◽  
Hand Amputation

What is left over if I subtract the fact that my arm goes up from the fact that I raise my arm? Neurological evidence invites the provocative hypothesis that what is left over is a phantom arm movement—a movement of an arm that has been amputated. After arm/hand amputation, many amputees report that they can generate voluntary movements of the phantom limb; that is, they can move the arm that was amputated. But what is it like to move an arm/hand that is not there? Here, we review what is currently known about phantom limb movements at three descriptive levels: the kinematic level, the muscle level, and the cortical level. We conclude that phantom arm movements are best conceptualized as the real movements of a dematerialized hand.

Intra- and Inter-individual Movement Variability of Upper Limb Movements of Ballet Dancers

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 132-140
Author(s):  
Yui Kawano ◽  
Mayumi Kuno-Mizumura
Keyword(s):  
Upper Limb ◽  
Arm Movements ◽  
Arm Movement ◽  
Technical Level ◽  
Upper Limbs ◽  
Movement Variability ◽  
Limb Movements ◽  
Joint Angles ◽  
Ballet Dancers ◽  
Upper Limb Movements

OBJECTIVE: This study examined intra- and inter-individual variability in upper limb movements of ballet dancers when performing flapping swan-wing movements, and it assessed differences in joint angles of upper limbs between dancers of different skill levels. METHODS: 23 female ballet dancers (3 professional, 6 advanced, and 14 intermediate dancers) and 21 age-matched females without previous dance experience participated in this study. Thirty-three reflective markers were attached to each participant’s trunk and upper limbs, and the flapping upper limb motions from Swan Lake were subsequently captured with eight optical cameras. Peak values of upper limb joint angles (shoulder, elbow, and wrist joint) were obtained, and intra- and inter-individual movement variability of each joint angle were compared between groups. RESULTS: In joint angles of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist, there were few differences among professional, advanced, and intermediate groups. The intra-individual movement variability in upward arm movements was significantly larger for professional and control groups than for advanced and intermediate groups, while in downward arm movement, variability became significantly smaller as technical level increased. Moreover, inter-individual movement variability was larger in the upward arm movement as technical level increased, and smaller in the downward arm movement for the professional group. The results suggested that the upward arm movements reflect dancers’ individual expression, while the downward arm movements reflect their technical competence at this swan-like movement. CONCLUSION: The complicated swan-like movements performed by skilled dancers in this study indicate that they execute expressive and technical components in sequence.

Primate globus pallidus and subthalamic nucleus: functional organization

1985 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 530-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. DeLong ◽  
M. D. Crutcher ◽  
A. P. Georgopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Globus Pallidus ◽  
Subthalamic Nucleus ◽  
Arm Movements ◽  
Arm Movement ◽  
Neuronal Responses ◽  
Limb Movements ◽  
Somatosensory Stimulation ◽  
Orofacial Movements ◽  
Leg Movement ◽  
Leg Movements

Neuronal relations to active movements of individual body parts and neuronal responses to somatosensory stimulation were studied in the external (GPe) and internal (GPi) segments of the globus pallidus (GP) and the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of awake monkeys. In GPe (n = 249), GPi (n = 151), and STN (n = 153), 47, 29, and 28% of the cells, respectively, discharged in relation to active arm movements, 10, 11, and 15% to leg movements, and 22, 22, and 18% to orofacial movements. Of the neurons whose activity was related to arm movements, 26, 16, and 21% in GPe, GPi, and STN, respectively, discharged in relation to movements of distal parts of the limb. Of cells whose discharge was related to active limb movements, 37, 22, and 20% in GPe, GPi, and STN, respectively, also responded to passive joint rotation, which was usually specific in terms of joint and direction of movement. Only a small percentage of cells responded to muscle or joint palpation, tendon taps, or cutaneous stimulation. Short-latency, direction-specific neuronal responses to load perturbations confirmed the existence of proprioceptive driving. In both GPe and GPi, leg movement-related neurons were centrally located in the rostrocaudal and dorsoventral dimensions. In contrast, arm movement-related cells were found throughout the entire rostrocaudal extent of both segments, although in greater numbers caudally. In the central portions they were situated largely inferior and lateral to leg movement-related neurons. Neurons related to orofacial movements were largely confined to the caudal halves of both segments, where they were located largely ventral to arm movement-related cells. The STN cells whose activity was related to leg movements were observed largely in the central portions of the nucleus in the rostrocaudal and mediolateral dimensions. Cells whose activity was related to arm movements were found throughout the rostrocaudal extent of the nucleus, but were most numerous at the rostral and caudal poles. Neurons related to movements of the facial musculature and to licking and chewing movements were distributed over the entire rostrocaudal extent of the nucleus, where they generally occupied the ventrolateral regions. In all three nuclei, neurons with similar functional properties were sometimes clustered together. Within the arm and leg areas, however, there was no clear evidence for a simple organization of clusters related to different parts of the limb. These studies provide further evidence for a role of the basal ganglia in the control of limb movements.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

scholarly journals Voluntary Upper-Extremity Movements in Patients With Unilateral Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-227
Author(s):  
Diane F Borello-France ◽  
Jere D Gallagher ◽  
Joseph M Furman ◽  
Mark S Redfern ◽  
George E Carvell
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Choice Reaction Time ◽  
Arm Movements ◽  
Arm Movement ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Body Segment ◽  
Motor Impairments ◽  
Vestibular Loss ◽  
Head Velocity ◽  
Vestibular Hypofunction

Abstract Background and Purpose. People with peripheral vestibular pathology demonstrate motor impairments when responding and adapting to postural platform perturbations and during performance of sit-to-stand and locomotor tasks. This study investigated the influence of unilateral peripheral vestibular hypofunction on voluntary arm movement. Subjects and Methods. Subjects without known neurological impairments and subjects with vestibular impairments performed 3 voluntary arm movements: an overhead reach to a target, a sideward reach to a target, and a forward flexion movement through 90 degrees. Subjects performed these tasks under precued and choice reaction time conditions. During all tasks, body segment motion was measured. Head velocity measurements were calculated for the side task only. Results. Subjects with vestibular loss restricted upper body segment motion within the frontal and transverse planes for the 90-degree and overhead tasks. Average angular head velocity was lower for the group with vestibular hypofunction. Task uncertainty (the introduction of a choice reaction time paradigm) differentially influenced the groups regarding head velocity at target acquisition. Discussion and Conclusion. Individuals with vestibular loss altered their performance of voluntary arm movements. Such alterations may have served to minimize the functional consequences of gaze instability.

scholarly journals Temporary Inactivation in the Primate Motor Thalamus During Visually Triggered and Internally Generated Limb Movements

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 2780-2790 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. van Donkelaar ◽  
J. F. Stein ◽  
R. E. Passingham ◽  
R. C. Miall
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Baseline Period ◽  
Voluntary Movements ◽  
Limb Movements ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Motor Thalamus ◽  
Ventral Posterolateral Nucleus ◽  
Area X ◽  
Lateral Nucleus

To better understand the contribution of cerebellar- and basal ganglia-receiving areas of the thalamus [ventral posterolateral nucleus, pars oralis (VPLo), area X, ventral lateral nucleus, pars oralis (VLo), or ventral anterior nucleus, pars parvicellularis (VApc)] to movements based on external versus internal cues, we temporarily inactivated these individual nuclei in two monkeys trained to make visually triggered (VT) and internally generated (IG) limb movements. Infusions of lignocaine centered within VPLo caused hemiplegia during which movements of the contralateral arm rarely were performed in either task for a short period of time (∼5–30 min). When VT responses were produced, they had prolonged reaction times and movement times and a higher incidence of trajectory abnormalities compared with responses produced during the preinfusion baseline period. In contrast, those IG responses that were produced remained relatively normal. Infusions centered within area X never caused hemiplegia. The only deficits observed were an increase in reaction time and movement amplitude variability and a higher incidence of trajectory abnormalities during VT trials. Every other aspect of both the VT and IG movements remained unchanged. Infusions centered within VLo reduced the number of movements attempted during each block of trials. This did not appear to be due to hemiplegia, however, as voluntary movements easily could be elicited outside of the trained tasks. The other main deficit resulting from inactivation of VLo was an increased reaction time in the VT task. Finally, infusions centered within VApc caused IG movements to become slower and smaller in amplitude, whereas VT movements remained unchanged. Control infusions with saline did not cause any consistent deficits. This pattern of results implies that VPLo and VLo play a role in the production of movements in general regardless of the context under which they are performed. They also suggest that VPLo contributes more specifically to the execution of movements that are visually triggered and guided, whereas area X contributes specifically to the initiation of such movements. In contrast, VApc appears to play a role in the execution of movements based on internal cues. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that specific subcircuits within the cerebello- and basal ganglio-thalamo-cortical systems preferentially contribute to movements based on external versus internal cues.

scholarly journals Neuronal Activity Related to the Visual Representation of Arm Movements in the Lateral Cerebellar Cortex

2003 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 1223-1237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuguang Liu ◽  
Edwin Robertson ◽  
R. Christopher Miall
Keyword(s):  
Neuronal Activity ◽  
Cerebellar Cortex ◽  
Arm Movements ◽  
Arm Movement ◽  
Visual Outcome ◽  
Neural Representation ◽  
Movement Direction ◽  
Visually Guided ◽  
Motor Actions ◽  
Increased Activity

Testing the hypothesis that the lateral cerebellum forms a sensory representation of arm movements, we investigated cortical neuronal activity in two monkeys performing visually guided step-tracking movements with a manipulandum. A virtual target and cursor image were viewed co-planar with the manipulandum. In the normal task, manipulandum and cursor moved in the same direction; in the mirror task, the cursor was left-right reversed. In one monkey, 70- and 200-ms time delays were introduced on cursor movement. Significant task-related activity was recorded in 31 cells in one animal and 142 cells in the second: 10.2% increased activity before arm movements onset, 77.1% during arm movement, and 12.7% after the new position was reached. To test for neural representation of the visual outcome of movement, firing rate modulation was compared in normal and mirror step-tracking. Most task-related neurons (68%) showed no significant directional modulation. Of 70 directionally sensitive cells, almost one-half ( n = 34, 48%) modulated firing with a consistent cursor movement direction, many fewer responding to the manipulandum direction ( n = 9, 13%). For those “cursor-related” cells tested with delayed cursor movement, increased activity onset was time-locked to arm movement and not cursor movement, but activation duration was extended by an amount similar to the applied delay. Hence, activity returned to baseline about when the delayed cursor reached the target. We conclude that many cells in the lateral cerebellar cortex signaled the direction of cursor movement during active step-tracking. Such a predictive representation of the arm movement could be used in the guidance of visuo-motor actions.

Three-Dimensional Model to Predict Muscle Forces and Their Relation to Motor Variances in Reaching Arm Movements

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 362-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Tibold ◽  
Gabor Fazekas ◽  
Jozsef Laczko
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Angular Acceleration ◽  
Arm Movements ◽  
Arm Movement ◽  
Hand Position ◽  
Muscle Forces ◽  
Three Dimensional Model ◽  
Movement Model ◽  
Joint Torques ◽  
Moment Arms

A three-dimensional (3-D) arm movement model is presented to simulate kinematic properties and muscle forces in reaching arm movements. Healthy subjects performed reaching movements repetitively either with or without a load in the hand. Joint coordinates were measured. Muscle moment arms, 3-D angular acceleration, and moment of inertias of arm segments were calculated to determine 3-D joint torques. Variances of hand position, arm configuration, and muscle activities were calculated. Ratios of movement variances observed in the two conditions (load versus without load) showed no differences for hand position and arm configuration variances. Virtual muscle force variances for all muscles except deltoid posterior and EMG variances for four muscles increased significantly by moving with the load. The greatly increased variances in muscle activity did not imply equally high increments in kinematic variances. We conclude that enhanced muscle cooperation through synergies helps to stabilize movement at the kinematic level when a load is added.

Developmental Differences in Children's Ballistic Aiming Movements of the Arm

2003 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 589-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin H. Yan ◽  
George E. Stelmach ◽  
Katherine T. Thomas ◽  
Jerry R. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Arm Movements ◽  
Arm Movement ◽  
Developmental Differences ◽  
Time To Peak ◽  
Timing Variability ◽  
Movement Performance ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Movement Sequence ◽  
On Line

An experiment was conducted to examine the change in the relation between programming and “on-line” correction as a developmental explanation of children's arm movement performance. Each of 54 children in three age groups (5. 8, and 10 yr.) completed two types of rapid aiming arm movements in the longitudinal plane on the surface of a digitizer. Percent primary submovements and timing variability were dependent variables. Analysis suggested that the 5-yr.-olds used “on-line” monitoring during the arm movement and did not perform the movement sequence as a functional unit. Compared with 8- and 10-yr.-olds, the 5-yr.-olds planned a smaller portion of movements, executed the arm movements with more variability in time to peak velocity. The 8- and 10-yr.-olds appeared to plan their movements and execute the sequence as a unit. The developmental implications were discussed.

scholarly journals A NEURAL-NETWORK-BASED APPROACH TO RECOGNIZING 3D ARM MOVEMENTS

2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (01) ◽  
pp. 17-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
MU-CHUN SU ◽  
YU-XIANG ZHAO ◽  
EUGENE LAI
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Markov Model ◽  
Hidden Markov Model ◽  
Gesture Recognition ◽  
Hidden Markov ◽  
Arm Movements ◽  
Movement Pattern ◽  
Arm Movement ◽  
Hand Gesture ◽  
Spatio Temporal

Gesture recognition is needed for a variety of applications. One particular application of gesture-based systems is to implement a speaking aid for the deaf. Among several factors constituting a hand gesture, the arm movement pattern is one of the most challenging features to recognize. In this paper, we propose a neural-network-based approach to recognition of spatio-temporal patterns of nonlinear 3D arm movements. Compared to Hidden-Markov-Model-based methods, the most appealing property of the proposed method is its simplicity. The effectiveness of this method is evaluated by a database consisted of 10 persons.

Changes in the control of arm position, movement, and thalamic discharge during local inactivation in the globus pallidus of the monkey

1996 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 1087-1104 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Inase ◽  
J. A. Buford ◽  
M. E. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Globus Pallidus ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Discharge Rate ◽  
Movement Time ◽  
Arm Movements ◽  
Arm Movement ◽  
Temporal Correlation ◽  
Movement Velocity ◽  
Thalamic Neurons ◽  
Internal Globus Pallidus

1. To examine the effect of disruption of basal ganglia output on limb stability and movement, muscimol was injected into the internal globus pallidus (GPi) of monkeys trained to make arm movements to visible or remembered targets in a two-dimensional workspace. 2. Injections of as little as 0.25 micrograms muscimol at GPi sites at which pallidal neurons with arm movement activity had been recorded were followed by drift of the contralateral arm within < 10 min. Drift was usually in the flexor direction. Injections at a few sites in or near the external pallidal segment sometimes were followed by extensor drift. 3. Drift was active (accompanied by activation of agonist muscles), but could be overcome by the animal, resulting in an oscillating movement off and on the required position. 4. The pallidal-receiving (PR) area of the thalamus was identified by recording the response of thalamic neurons to stimulation in the globus pallidus. The activity of 15 neurons identified as PR cells (n = 6) or within the PR region was recorded both before and after injection of muscimol into GPi. After the injection, the tonic discharge increased during the hold period in 47% of the cells studied. When postural drift also occurred, there was a close temporal correlation between the postinjection time at which drift occurred and the time at which the tonic discharge rate increased in thalamic neurons that were clearly related to arm movement. 5. The peak velocity of arm movements to visible or remembered visual target locations was decreased after injection of muscimol into GPi, sometimes with an increase in movement time. 6. The firing rate of PR thalamic neurons after injection of muscimol was also increased during the perimovement period. Because of the increase in the tonic discharge rate, however, the phasic movement-related change in activity could stay the same or even decrease. Postinjection changes in this movement-related phasic activity, however, were not necessarily coincident with changes in peak movement velocity. 7. Changes in reaction time were variable after injection of muscimol. In some cases it was increased, and in others decreased. The time of onset of phasic movement-related changes in the activity of PR neurons studied was not altered by the injection. 8. Our data indicate that the tonic inhibitory output of GPi, in particular to the cortical motor areas, is especially important in the maintenance of postural stability. In the absence of normal pallidal output, desired limb position can be achieved on the basis of either current or prior visual cues, but targeted movements are slowed.

Predicting Any Arm Movement Feedback to Induce Three-Dimensional Illusory Movements in Humans

2010 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. 949-959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloé Thyrion ◽  
Jean-Pierre Roll
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Arm Movements ◽  
Arm Movement ◽  
Muscle Spindles ◽  
Proprioceptive Information ◽  
Human Arm ◽  
Muscle Groups ◽  
Coding Rules ◽  
Straight Lines ◽  
2D And 3D

Our sense of body posture and movement is mainly mediated by densely packed populations of tiny mechanoreceptors present in the muscles. Signals triggered in muscle spindles by our own actions contribute crucially to our consciousness of positions and movements by continuously feeding and updating dynamic sensorimotor maps. Deciphering the coding rules whereby the nervous system integrates this proprioceptive information perceptually could help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying kinesthesia. The aim of the present study was to test the validity of a “propriomimetic method” of predicting the proprioceptive streams emitted by each of the muscles involved in two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) arm movements. This method was based on the functional properties of muscle spindle populations previously recorded microneurographically in behaving humans. Ia afferent patterns mimicking those evoked when the “arm–forearm” ensemble is drawing straight lines, graphic symbols, and complex 3D figures were calculated. These simulated patterns were then delivered to the main elbow and shoulder muscle tendons of motionless volunteers via a set of vibrators. Results show that the simulated proprioceptive patterns applied induced, in passive subjects, illusory 2D and 3D arm movements, the trajectories of which were very similar to the expected ones. These simulated patterns can therefore be said to be a substitute for the Ia proprioceptive feedback evoked by any human arm movement and this method can certainly be extended to other musculoskeletal ensembles. The illusory movements induced when these proprioceptive patterns are applied to muscle groups via sets of vibrators may provide useful tools for sensorimotor rehabilitation purposes.

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