Jakob Škarabot1, Ruben Perellón Alfonso2, Neil Cronin3, Jure Bon2, Vojko Strojnik4, Janne Avela3. 1. Neuromuscular Research Centre, Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, PL 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland. jakob.skarabot@gmail.com. 2. Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloška cesta 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia. 3. Neuromuscular Research Centre, Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, PL 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland. 4. Laboratory of Kinesiology, Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Gortanova ulica 22, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Interhemispheric inhibition may play a role in the expression of bilateral deficit in force (BLD). This study investigated whether the degree of BLD is reflected in the nature of interhemispheric interaction during unilateral and bilateral contractions. METHODS: Subjects divided into three groups, 'bilateral' (n = 7), 'unilateral' (n = 5) and 'control' (n = 8), performed unilateral and bilateral maximal voluntary isometric knee extensions while receiving electrical stimulation, and transcranial magnetic stimulation of the target and ipsilateral muscles. Main variables of interest included peak force for subsequent calculation of bilateral index, voluntary activation level (VAL), motor evoked potential amplitudes (MEPs) and silent period durations (SPs). RESULTS: BLD was noted only for the whole sample (p = 0.009), but not for any of the groups. VAL was significantly higher during bilateral compared to unilateral contractions (~97 vs. 92 %, p = 0.023), with no differences between groups. MEPs of target and ipsilateral muscles were significantly bigger during bilateral contractions (p = 0.042 and p = 0.022, respectively), with no differences between groups. No differences in SPs were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Higher values of MEPs and VAL during bilateral contractions, in conjunction with unaltered SPs, do not support the concept of inhibition related to BLD, but rather suggest the possibility of cortical facilitation. Based on the existing literature, this behavior may be specific to the lower limb musculature, but the possibility of sub-cortical or higher-order neural alterations cannot be excluded.
PURPOSE: Interhemispheric inhibition may play a role in the expression of bilateral deficit in force (BLD). This study investigated whether the degree of BLD is reflected in the nature of interhemispheric interaction during unilateral and bilateral contractions. METHODS: Subjects divided into three groups, 'bilateral' (n = 7), 'unilateral' (n = 5) and 'control' (n = 8), performed unilateral and bilateral maximal voluntary isometric knee extensions while receiving electrical stimulation, and transcranial magnetic stimulation of the target and ipsilateral muscles. Main variables of interest included peak force for subsequent calculation of bilateral index, voluntary activation level (VAL), motor evoked potential amplitudes (MEPs) and silent period durations (SPs). RESULTS: BLD was noted only for the whole sample (p = 0.009), but not for any of the groups. VAL was significantly higher during bilateral compared to unilateral contractions (~97 vs. 92 %, p = 0.023), with no differences between groups. MEPs of target and ipsilateral muscles were significantly bigger during bilateral contractions (p = 0.042 and p = 0.022, respectively), with no differences between groups. No differences in SPs were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Higher values of MEPs and VAL during bilateral contractions, in conjunction with unaltered SPs, do not support the concept of inhibition related to BLD, but rather suggest the possibility of cortical facilitation. Based on the existing literature, this behavior may be specific to the lower limb musculature, but the possibility of sub-cortical or higher-order neural alterations cannot be excluded.