Name: combining multiple data acquisition systems to study corticospinal output and multi-segment biomechanics
Uploaded: 2016-01-09T13:00:01
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Combining Multiple Data Acquisition Systems to Study Corticospinal Output and Multi-segment Biomechanics at JoVE.com

The authors thank funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council to AJN.

NOTE: The following protocol can be applied to a variety of experiments. Below are details regarding an experiment that involves a visually guided arm reaching task to one of six spatial targets displayed on a computer monitor. TMS, to probe corticospinal excitability, is triggered by either analog signals emerging from the movement (i.e., EMG or electrogoniometer input) or digital signals generated from the sweep-based data acquisition software. This study was approved by the McMaster Research Ethics Board in a...

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The present manuscript details an innovative method to integrate TMS and motion capture systems in the context of a visuo-motor task. To make rapid and meaningful advances in the study of human motor control, it is essential that methodologies allow for precise communication across multiple hardware and software systems. The paradigm presented could be used to study a variety of research interests including the cortical contribution to motor learning, the neurophysiology of motor control, and multi-joint movement contr...

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive method to stimulate the human cortex.3,5 There are several TMS protocols that are used to understand cortical function such as single and multiple pulses, dual-site stimulation to probe functional connectivity, and repetitive pulses to promote neural plasticity.4,6-8 TMS protocols may also be combined to advance the present understanding of human cortical processes and guide neural rehabilitation strategies. In addition to stimulating the cortex, TMS can also be used to understand sub-cortical function by stimulation of the corticospinal tract or cerebellum.
One of the largest technical challenges currently facing TMS research is the ability to study the role of cortical areas during goal-directed voluntary movement in humans. Several considerations contribute to this technical challenge. First, TMS delivery should be combined with real-time human motion capture. In this way, TMS pulses can be delivered or triggered by features within a movement sequence providing a time-locked approach to study complex movement. Second, integrating TMS delivery and motion capture permits a detailed characterization of complex movement as it unfolds, which will advance the understanding of brain-behavior relationships that underpin motor control. At present, there are no commercially available systems that inclusively integrate TMS and motion capture methodologies. For neuroscientists in the field of motor control, this void typically translates into time consuming, technical challenges to integrate multiple software and hardware data acquisition and delivery systems. This technical limitation has also resulted in sparse research dedicated to the study of dynamic multi-joint movements involving the upper limb. For TMS to advance the field of human motor control, it is imperative that cortical function be probed during complex human movement.
To effectively integrate TMS and motion capture methodologies, the acquisition system must allow real-time simultaneous TMS and motion capture. Second, the system must be suitable to study movement kinematics (i.e., description of the movement), movement kinetics (i.e., forces that cause movement), and muscle activity. Third, the system must be able to synchronize TMS pulses to these movement features, and be triggered by criteria based on complex movement features. Such a system will provide an essential linkage between cortical function and kinematic and kinetics of movement.
This manuscript details a unique approach to integrate methods of TMS and motion capture. This approach allows detailed analysis of the mechanics of complex multi-joint movements, and permits automated control of TMS pulses triggered by specific features of the movement (i.e., kinematics, kinetics, or muscle activity). Further, this data acquisition system allows for TMS and motion capture to be integrated with experimental paradigms that require visuo-motor or sensorimotor tasks. This manuscript details an innovative approach to integrate commonly used motion capture hardware and software systems for the purpose of combining TMS and human movement acquisition and analysis. Data are presented using a sample study of human cortical functioning during planar multi-joint movement. The software scripts required to perform the experiment are available for download.

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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Polhemus FASTRAK</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">Polhemus Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:167px;">6 degrees of freedom electromagnetic motion tracking device with 4 sensors</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Presentation</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">Neurobehavioural Systems Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>A fully programmable software for experiments involving data acquisition and stimulus delivery</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">Cutom built Exoskeleton</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">80/20 Inc. - The industrial erector set</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Varies</td>
			<td>Various parts used to build the exoskeleton</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Brainsight</td>
			<td style="width:124px;">Rogue Research Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>Neuronavigation software to track coil position throughout the experiment</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

combining multiple data acquisition systems to study corticospinal output and multi-segment biomechanics

Transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques allow for an in-depth investigation into the neural mechanisms that underpin human behavior. To date, the use of TMS to study human movement, has been limited by the challenges related to precisely timing the delivery of TMS to features of the unfolding movement and, also, by accurately characterizing kinematics and kinetics. To overcome these technical challenges, TMS delivery and acquisition systems should be integrated with an online motion tracking system. The present manuscript details technical innovations that integrate multiple acquisition systems to facilitate and advance the use of TMS to study human movement. Using commercially available software and hardware systems, a step-by-step approach to both the hardware assembly and the software scripts necessary to perform TMS studies triggered by specific features of a movement is provided. The approach is focused on the study of upper limb, planar, multi-joint reaching movements. However, the same integrative system is amenable to a multitude of sophisticated studies of human motor control.

Figure 3 displays the results from a single trial. In this trial, Figure 3A shows the initial position of the participant and, after an auditory &#39;go&#39; cue, the participant moved as quickly and accurately as possible to the target (i.e., the final position). The sweep-based data acquisition software triggered a TMS pulse based on EMG onset in the biceps brachii muscle. This permitted the measure of corticospinal output directed to upper arm...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Combining Multiple Data Acquisition Systems to Study Corticospinal Output and Multi-segment Biomechanics at JoVE.com

Combining Multiple Data Acquisition Systems to Study Corticospinal Output and Multi-segment Biomechanics

The use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study human motor control requires the integration of data acquisition systems to control TMS delivery and simultaneously record human behavior. The present manuscript provides a detailed methodology for integrating data acquisition systems for the purpose of investigating human movement via TMS.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques allow for an in-depth investigation into the neural mechanisms that underpin human behavior. To date, the use ...

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