%0 Journal Article %1 maitland_electrical_2022 %A Maitland, Stuart %A Escobedo-Cousin, Enrique %A Schofield, Ian %A O'Neill, Anthony %A Baker, Stuart %A Whittaker, Roger %D 2022 %J Clinical Neurophysiology %K Electromyography, Microfabrication, Motor Muscle Skeletal fibre localisation muscle, unit, %P 82--92 %R 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.12.022 %T Electrical cross-sectional imaging of human motor units in vivo %U https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388245722000244 %V 136 %X Objectives In many neuromuscular diseases, weakness results from a disruption in muscle fibres' arrangement within a motor unit. Limitations in current techniques mean that the spatial distribution of fibres in human motor units remains unknown. Methods A flexible multi-channel electrode was developed and bonded to a clinical electromyography (EMG) needle. Muscle fibre action potentials were localised using a novel deconvolution method. This was tested using simulated data, and in recordings collected from the tibialis anterior muscle of healthy subjects. Results Simulated data indicated good localisation reliability across all sections of the electrode except the end sections. A corrected fibre density was estimated up to 1.4 fibres/mm2. Across five recordings from three individuals, between 4 and 14 motor units were detected. Between 1 and 20 muscle fibres were localised per motor unit within the electrode detection area, with up to 220 muscle fibres localised per recording, with overlapping motor unit territories. Conclusions We provide the first direct evidence that human motor units spatially overlap, as well as data related to the spatial arrangement of muscle fibres within a motor unit. Significance As well as providing insights into normal human motor physiology, this technology could lead to faster and more accurate diagnosis in patients with neuromuscular diseases.

@article{maitland_electrical_2022, abstract = {Objectives In many neuromuscular diseases, weakness results from a disruption in muscle fibres' arrangement within a motor unit. Limitations in current techniques mean that the spatial distribution of fibres in human motor units remains unknown. Methods A flexible multi-channel electrode was developed and bonded to a clinical electromyography (EMG) needle. Muscle fibre action potentials were localised using a novel deconvolution method. This was tested using simulated data, and in recordings collected from the tibialis anterior muscle of healthy subjects. Results Simulated data indicated good localisation reliability across all sections of the electrode except the end sections. A corrected fibre density was estimated up to 1.4 fibres/mm2. Across five recordings from three individuals, between 4 and 14 motor units were detected. Between 1 and 20 muscle fibres were localised per motor unit within the electrode detection area, with up to 220 muscle fibres localised per recording, with overlapping motor unit territories. Conclusions We provide the first direct evidence that human motor units spatially overlap, as well as data related to the spatial arrangement of muscle fibres within a motor unit. Significance As well as providing insights into normal human motor physiology, this technology could lead to faster and more accurate diagnosis in patients with neuromuscular diseases.}, added-at = {2023-02-08T12:07:40.000+0100}, author = {Maitland, Stuart and Escobedo-Cousin, Enrique and Schofield, Ian and O'Neill, Anthony and Baker, Stuart and Whittaker, Roger}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/25a74186c83ac45320e8b32d128033eb6/stumaitland}, doi = {10.1016/j.clinph.2021.12.022}, file = {Full Text:/Users/stuartbman/Zotero/storage/6HDPJI2Y/Maitland et al. - 2022 - Electrical cross-sectional imaging of human motor .pdf:application/pdf;ScienceDirect Snapshot:/Users/stuartbman/Zotero/storage/XAEYYBRN/S1388245722000244.html:text/html}, interhash = {d65b75414513b611d4e5eb8e7378d3f2}, intrahash = {5a74186c83ac45320e8b32d128033eb6}, issn = {1388-2457}, journal = {Clinical Neurophysiology}, keywords = {Electromyography, Microfabrication, Motor Muscle Skeletal fibre localisation muscle, unit,}, language = {en}, month = apr, pages = {82--92}, timestamp = {2023-02-08T12:08:14.000+0100}, title = {Electrical cross-sectional imaging of human motor units in vivo}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388245722000244}, urldate = {2022-07-14}, volume = 136, year = 2022 }