In: Cortex, 2015, vol. 64, p. 102–114
After immobilization, patients show impaired postural control and increased risk of falling. Therefore, loss of balance control should already be counteracted during immobilization. Previously, studies have demonstrated that both motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) can improve motor performance. The current study elaborated how the brain is activated during imagination and observation...
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In: Clinical Neurophysiology, 2015, vol. 126, no. 1, p. 131–139
Joint immobilization has previously been shown to modulate corticospinal excitability. The present study investigated changes in the excitability of distinct fractions of the corticospinal pathway by means of conditioning the H-reflex with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the primary motor cortex (Hcond). This method allows assessment of transmission in fast (monosynaptic) and slow(er)...
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In: Human Movement Science, 2011, p. -
Drop-jumps are controlled by predictive and reactive motor strategies which differ with respect to the utilization of sensory feedback. With reaction, sensory feedback is integrated while performing the task. With prediction, sensory information may be used prior to movement onset. Certainty about upcoming events is important for prediction. The present study aimed at investigating how...
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In: PLoS ONE, 2013, vol. 8, no. 12, p. e81038
It is well known that following skill learning, improvements in motor performance may transfer to the untrained contralateral limb. It is also well known that retention of a newly learned task A can be degraded when learning a competing task B that takes place directly after learning A. Here we investigate if this interference effect can also be observed in the limb contralateral to the trained...
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In: Experimental Brain Research, 2013, p. 1–8
The sense of force is critical in the control of movement and posture. Multiple factors influence our perception of exerted force, including inputs from cutaneous afferents, muscle afferents and central commands. Here, we studied the influence of cutaneous feedback on the control of ankle force output. We used repetitive electrical stimulation of the superficial peroneal (foot dorsum) and medial...
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In: Human Movement Science, 2011, vol. 30, no. 6, p. 1079-1091
When stretching muscles of the ankle joint, stretch velocity and amplitude were shown to selectively influence specific parts of the stretch reflex. The present study investigated whether similar effects can be observed at the knee joint. Seventeen subjects were exposed to sudden anterior tibial translations. The influence of stimulus amplitude was analyzed by applying a low (LIMP) or high...
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 2011, p. -
There is an ongoing discussion about how to improve jump performance most efficiently with plyometric training. It has been proposed that drop height influences the outcome, although longitudinal studies are missing. Based on cross-sectional drop jump studies showing height-dependent Hoffmann (H)-reflex activities, we hypothesized that the drop height should influence the neuromuscular...
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In: PLoS ONE, 2011, vol. 6, no. 10, p. e25657
At the onset of dynamic movements excitation of the motor cortex (M1) is spatially restricted to areas representing the involved muscles whereas adjacent areas are inhibited. The current study elucidates whether the cortical motor command for dynamic contractions is also restricted to a certain population of cortical neurons responsible for the fast corticospinal projections. Therefore,...
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In: Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 2012, vol. 40, no. 2, p. 106–115
How can the human central nervous system (CNS) control complex jumping movements task- and context-specifically? This review highlights the complex interaction of multiple hierarchical levels of the CNS, which work together to enable stretch-shortening cycle contractions composed of activity resulting from feedforward (preprogrammed) and feedback (reflex) loops.
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In: European Journal of Neuroscience, 2012, vol. 35, no. 10, p. 1622-1629
The aim of the present study was to artificially induce plasticity in the human spinal cord and evaluate whether this plasticity is pathway specific. For this purpose, a technique called paired associative stimulation (PAS) was applied. Volleys evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation over the primary motor cortex and peripheral nerve stimulation of the nervus tibialis in the popliteal...
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