Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D J Ostry

Publications and source records attributed to D J Ostry.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Coordination of multiple muscles in two degree of freedom elbow movements.

The present study quantifies electromyographic (EMG) magnitude, timing, and duration in one and two degree of freedom elbow movements involving combinations of flexion-extension and pronation-supination. The aim is to understand the organization of commands subserving motion in individual and multiple degrees of freedom. The muscles tested in this study fell into two categories with respect to agonist burst magnitude: those whose burst magnitude varied with motion in a second degree of freedom at the elbow, and those whose burst magnitude depended on motion in one degree of freedom only. In multiarticular muscles contributing to motion in two degrees of freedom at the elbow, we found that the magnitude of the agonist burst was greatest for movements in which a muscle acted as agonist in both degrees of freedom. The burst magnitudes for one degree of freedom movements were, in turn, greater than for movements in which the muscle was agonist in one degree of freedom and antagonist in the other. It was also found that, for movements in which a muscle acted as agonist in two degrees of freedom, the burst magnitude was, in the majority of cases, not different from the sum of the burst magnitudes in the component movements. When differences occurred, the burst magnitude for the combined movement was greater than the sum of the components. Other measures of EMG activity such as burst onset time and duration were not found to vary in a systematic manner with motion in these two degrees of freedom. It was also seen that several muscles which produced motion in one degree of freedom at the elbow, including triceps brachii (long head), triceps brachii (lateral head), and pronator quadratus displayed first agonist bursts whose magnitude did not vary with motion in a second degree of freedom. However, for the monoarticular elbow flexors brachialis and brachioradialis, agonist burst magnitude was affected by pronation or supination. Lastly, it was observed that during elbow movements in which muscles acted as agonist in one degree of freedom and antagonist in the other, the muscle activity often displayed both agonist and antagonist components in the same movement. It was found that, for pronator teres and biceps brachii, the timing of the bursts was such that there was activity in these muscles concurrent with activity in both pure agonists and pure antagonists.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗

Coordination of mono- and bi-articular muscles in multi-degree of freedom elbow movements.

We investigated the coordination of mono- and bi-articular muscles during movements involving one or more degrees of freedom at the elbow. Subjects performed elbow flexion (or extension) alone, forearm pronation (or supination) alone, and combinations of the two. In bi-articular muscles such as biceps brachii and pronator teres, the amplitude of agonist electromyographic (EMG) activity was dependent on motion in the two degrees of freedom. Agonist burst amplitudes for combined movements were approximately the sum of the agonist burst amplitudes for movements in the individual degrees of freedom. Activity levels in individual degrees of freedom were, in turn, greater than activity levels observed when a muscle acted as agonist in one degree of freedom and antagonist in the other. Other muscles such as triceps, brachialis, and pronator quadratus acted primarily during motion in a single degree of freedom. The relative magnitude and the timing of activity between sets of muscles also changed with motion in a second degree of freedom. These patterns are comparable with those reported previously in isometric studies.

Elbow↗

Control of jaw orientation and position in mastication and speech.

1. The kinematics of sagittal-plane jaw motion were assessed in mastication and speech. The movement paths were described in joint coordinates, in terms of the component rotations and translations. The analysis focused on the relationship between rotation and horizontal translation. Evidence was presented that these can be separately controlled. 2. In speech, jaw movements were studied during consonant-vowel utterances produced at different rates and volumes. In mastication, bolus placement, compliance, and size as well as chewing rate were manipulated. Jaw movements were recorded using the University of Wisconsin X-ray microbeam system. Jaw rotation and translation were calculated on the basis of the motion of X-ray tracking pellets on the jaw. 3. The average magnitudes of jaw rotation and translation were greater in mastication than in speech. In addition, in speech, it was shown that the average rotation magnitude may vary independent of the horizontal translation magnitude. In mastication, the average magnitude of vertical jaw translation was not dependent on the magnitudes of jaw rotation or horizontal jaw translation. 4. The magnitude of rotation and horizontal jaw translation tended to be correlated when examined on a trial by trial basis. Some subjects also showed a correlation between jaw rotation and vertical jaw translation. However, the proportion of variance accounted for was greater for all subjects in the case of rotation and horizontal translation. 5. Joint space paths in both mastication and speech were found to be straight. The pattern was observed at normal and fast rates of speech and mastication and for loud speech as well. Straight line paths were also observed when subjects produced utterances that had both the syllabic structure and the intonation pattern of speech. The findings suggest that control may be organized in terms of an equilibrium jaw orientation and an equilibrium jaw position. 6. Departures from linearity were also observed. These were typically associated with differences during jaw closing in the end time of rotation and translation. Start time differences were not observed in jaw closing and the movement paths were typically linear within this region.

Computer Graphics↗

Three-dimensional kinematic analysis of frog hindlimb movement in reflex wiping.

The three-dimensional kinematics of the hindlimb back-wipe were examined in spinal frogs. The component movements were identified and the relationship between stimulus position and hindlimb configuration was assessed. The planes of motion of the hindlimb were examined throughout the movement. The back-wipe comprises three essential phases: a placing phase (I), in which the foot is drawn over the back of the frog and placed in a position near to the stimulus; a pre-whisk phase (II), in which the endpoint of the foot moves away from the stimulus; and a whisk/extension phase (III), in which the stimulus is removed. The pre-whisk phase contributes to force production for the whisk/extension (III). In the placing phase a systematic relationship was found between limb endpoint position and stimulus position in the rostro-caudal direction. The hip, knee and metatarsal joint angles were related to the position of the endpoint in the rostro-caudal direction. However, different frogs tended to adopt different strategies to remove the stimulus. In one strategy, when the knee angle was strongly related to the rostro-caudal stimulus position, the metatarsal angle was weakly related and vice versa. Other strategies were observed as well. There was no adjustment in limb endpoint position for stimulus placement in the medial-lateral direction. Consistent with this finding, the point on the foot at which stimulus contact occurred changed systematically as a function of medial-lateral stimulus placement. Thus, in order to remove the stimulus in different medial-lateral positions, the frog used a different part of the foot rather than moving the foot in the direction of the stimulus. In two frogs a relationship was observed between the elevation of the femur and the medial-lateral stimulus position. The motion planes of the hindlimb were studied by examining the instantaneous plane of motion of the endpoint and the planes of motion of adjacent limb segments. The motion of the endpoint was found not to be planar in any phase of the wipe. In contrast, planar motion of the femur and tibia was observed for all phases. Systematic changes in the orientation of these planes characterized the different phases. The position of the hindlimb was found to be variable prior to the placing phase. This variability was not related to stimulus position. However, in trials with multiple wipes, once an initial limb configuration was assumed, the limb returned to this configuration before each wipe in the sequence. Evidence for motor equivalence was sought in two ways.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Lower pharyngeal wall coarticulation in VCV syllables.

Speech movements of the lower pharyngeal wall were recorded in two subjects using pulsed-echo ultrasound. The focus of the study was the pattern of coarticulation of pharyngeal wall movements. Using nonsense utterances as test material, both anticipatory and carryover coarticulatory effects were observed. The identity of the final vowel in VCV sequences affected the kinematic characteristics of the initial VC transition. Both the amplitude and the duration of the movement between the initial vowel and the consonant were greater when the final vowel was /u/ rather than /a/. Similarly, the initial vowel affected the kinematic characteristics of the final CV transition. The amplitude of the movement from the consonant to the final vowel was greater with the initial vowel /u/ as opposed to /a/. The coarticulatory patterns observed in this study are similar to those previously reported for the tongue dorsum and upper pharynx [Parush et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 74, 1115-1125 (1983); Parush and Ostry, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 80, 749-756 (1986)].

Female↗

Kinematics and control of frog hindlimb movements.

1. The determinants of the motion path of the hindlimb were explored in both intact and spinal frogs. In the spinal preparations the kinematic properties of withdrawal and crossed-extension reflexes were studied. In the intact frog the kinematics of withdrawal and swimming movements were examined. Frog hindlimb paths were described in joint angle (intrinsic) coordinates rather than limb endpoint (extrinsic) coordinates. 2. To study withdrawal and crossed-extension reflexes, the initial angles at the hip, knee, and ankle were varied. Withdrawal and crossed extension were recorded in three dimension (3-D) with the use of an infra-red spatial imaging system. Swimming movements against currents of different speeds were obtained with high-speed film. 3. Three strategies were considered related to the form of the hypothesized equilibrium paths specified by the nervous system: all trajectories lie on a single line in angular coordinates; all trajectories are directed toward a common final position; and all trajectories have the same direction independent of initial joint configuration. 4. Joint space paths in withdrawal were found to be straight and parallel independent of the initial joint configuration. The hip and knee were found to start simultaneously and in 75% of the conditions tested to reach maximum velocity simultaneously. Hip-knee maximum velocity ratios were similar in magnitude over differences in initial joint angles. This is consistent with the observation of parallel paths and supports the view that the nervous system specifies a single direction for equilibrium trajectories. 5. Straight line paths with slopes similar to those observed in withdrawal in the spinal preparation were found in swimming movements in the intact frog. Straight line paths in joint space are consistent with the idea that swimming and withdrawal are organized and controlled in a joint-level coordinate system. The similarities observed between spinal and intact preparations suggest that a common set of constructive elements underlies these behaviors. 6. Path curvature was introduced when joint limits were approached toward the end of the movement. Depending on the initial joint angles, the joint movements ended at different times. When initial joint angles were unequal, joints moving from smaller initial angles reached their functional limits earlier and stopped first. 7. In withdrawal and crossed extension in the spinal frog, velocity profiles at a given joint were similar over the initial portion of the curve for movements of different amplitude. This is consistent with the idea that withdrawal and crossed-extension movements of different amplitude are produced by a constant rate of shift of the equilibrium position.

Animals↗

Human jaw movement in mastication and speech.

The study of jaw movement in humans is a primary source of information about the relationship between voluntary movement and more primitive motor functions. This study focused on the geometric form of the velocity function, as measured by linear voltage displacement transducer. Movement amplitudes, maximum velocities and durations were greater in mastication than in speech. Nevertheless, there were detailed similarities in the shape of the normalized velocity functions. In jaw-closing movements, the normalized functions were similar in form over differences in rate, movement amplitude (speech movements) and the compliance of the bolus (mastication). In opening movements, the functions for mastication and speech were again similar over differences in amplitude and compliance. However, they differed in shape for fast and slow movements. Normalized acceleration and deceleration durations were approximately equal in rapid movements, whereas, for slower movements, deceleration took substantially longer than acceleration.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Velocity curves of human arm and speech movements.

The velocity curves of human arm and speech movements were examined as a function of amplitude and rate in both continuous and discrete movement tasks. Evidence for invariance under scalar transformation was assessed and a quantitative measure of the form of the curve was used to provide information on the implicit cost function in the production of voluntary movement. Arm, tongue and jaw movements were studied separately. The velocity curves of tongue and jaw movement were found to differ in form as a function of movement duration but were similar for movements of different amplitude. In contrast, the velocity curves for elbow movements were similar in form over differences in both amplitude and duration. Thus, the curves of arm movement, but not those of tongue or jaw movement, were geometrically equivalent in form. Measurements of the ratio of maximum to average velocity in arm movement were compared with the theoretical values calculated for a number of criterion functions. For continuous movements, the data corresponded best to values computed for the minimum energy criterion; for discrete movement, values were in the range of those predicted for the minimum jerk and best stiffness criteria. The source of a rate dependent asymmetry in the form of the velocity curve of speech movements was assessed in a control study in which subjects produced simple raising and lowering movements of the jaw without talking. The velocity curves of the non-speech control gesture were similar in form to those of jaw movement in speech. These data, in combination with similar findings for human jaw movement in mastication, suggest that the asymmetry is not a direct consequence of the requirements of the task. The biomechanics and neural control of the orofacial system may be possible sources of this effect.

Arm↗

Superior lateral pharyngeal wall movements in speech.

Medial movements of the lateral pharyngeal wall at the level of the velopharyngeal port were examined by using a computerized ultrasound system. Subjects produced CVNVC sequences involving all combinations of the vowels /a/ and /u/ and the nasal consonants /n/ and /m/. The effects of both vowels on the CVN and NVC gestures (opening and closing of the velopharyngeal port, respectively) were assessed in terms of movement amplitude, duration, and movement onset time. The amplitude of both opening and closing gestures of the lateral pharyngeal wall was less in the context of the vowel /u/ than the vowel /a/. In addition, the onset of the opening gesture towards the nasal consonant was related to the identity of both the initial and the final vowels. The characteristics of the functional coupling of the velum and lateral pharyngeal wall in speech are discussed.

Adult↗

Characteristics of velocity profiles of speech movements.

The control of individual speech gestures was investigated by examining laryngeal and tongue movements during vowel and consonant production. A number of linguistic manipulations known to alter the durational characteristics of speech (i.e., speech rate, lexical stress, and phonemic identity) were tested. In all cases a consistent pattern was observed in the kinematics of the laryngeal and tongue gestures. The ratio of maximum instantaneous velocity to movement amplitude, a kinematic index of mass-normalized stiffness, was found to increase systematically as movement duration decreased. Specifically, the ratio of maximum velocity to movement amplitude varied as a function of a parameter, C, times the reciprocal of movement duration. The conformity of the data to this relation indicates that durational change is accomplished by scalar adjustment of a base velocity form. These findings are consistent with the idea that kinematic change is produced by the specification of articulator stiffness.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Control of rate and duration of speech movements.

A computerized pulsed-ultrasound system was used to monitor tongue dorsum movements during the production of consonant-vowel sequences in which speech rate, vowel, and consonant were varied. The kinematics of tongue movement were analyzed by measuring the lowering gesture of the tongue to give estimates of movement amplitude, duration, and maximum velocity. All three subjects in the study showed reliable correlations between the amplitude of the tongue dorsum movement and its maximum velocity. Further, the ratio of the maximum velocity to the extent of the gesture, a kinematic indicator of articulator stiffness, was found to vary inversely with the duration of the movement. This relationship held both within individual conditions and across all conditions in the study such that a single function was able to accommodate a large proportion of the variance due to changes in movement duration. As similar findings have been obtained both for abduction and adduction gestures of the vocal folds and for rapid voluntary limb movements, the data suggest that a wide range of changes in the duration of individual movements might all have a similar origin. The control of movement rate and duration through the specification of biomechanical characteristics of speech articulators is discussed.

Humans↗

Similarities in the control of the speech articulators and the limbs: kinematics of tongue dorsum movement in speech.

The kinematics of tongue dorsum movements in speech were studied with pulsed ultrasound to assess similarities in the voluntary control of the speech articulators and the limbs. The stimuli were consonant--vowel syllables in which speech rate and stress were varied. The kinematic patterns for tongue dorsum movements were comparable to those observed in the rapid movement of the arms and hands. The maximum velocity of tongue dorsum raising and lowering was correlated with the extent of the gesture. The slope of the relationship differed for stressed and unstressed vowels but was unaffected by differences in speech rate. At each stress level the correlation between displacement and peak velocity was accompanied by a relatively constant interval from the initiation of the movement to the point of maximum velocity. The data are discussed with reference to systems that can be described with second-order differential equations. The increase in the slope of the displacement/peak-velocity relationship for unstressed versus stressed vowels is suggestive of a tonic increase in articulator stiffness. Variations in displacement are attributed to the level of phasic activity in the muscles producing the gesture.

Arm↗

Computerized measurement of tongue dorsum movements with pulsed-echo ultrasound.

A computerized system for the measurement of tongue dorsum movements with pulsed echo ultrasound is described. The presentation focuses on technical and methodological considerations in the on-line acquisition of vertical tongue movement information, its digital processing and display. Problems associated with transducer placement, peak detection, data averaging, and curve fitting are considered, and validation procedures based on x ray and indicators of measurement reliability are reported. The discussion centers on advantages and disadvantages of the technique and its applications.

Computers↗

A kinematic study of lingual coarticulation in VCV sequences.

Intra-articulator anticipatory and carryover coarticulation were assessed in both temporal and spatial terms. Three subjects produced VCV sequences with velar stop consonants and back vowels. Pulsed ultrasound was used to examine the vertical displacement, duration, and maximum velocity of the tongue dorsum raising (VC transition) and lowering (CV transition) gestures. Anticipatory coarticulation was primarily temporal for two subjects, with decreases in the duration of the VC transition accompanying increases in displacement for the CV transition. Carryover coarticulation was primarily spatial for all three subjects, with decreases in CV displacement and maximum velocity accompanying increases in VC displacement. It is suggested that these intra-articulator patterns can be accounted for in terms of an interaction between the raising gesture and a vowel-specific onset time of the lowering gesture towards the vowel. The implications of this kinematic characterization are discussed.

Humans↗