In order to develop a comprehensive model of the motor control system the time-varying nature of joint dynamics must be addressed. However, it has not previously been possible to quantitatively observe changes in joint dynamics during a transition of state. In this work, a recently developed method for identification of linear time-varying dynamic systems from ensemble data has been used to obtain models of neuromuscular dynamics during a rapid contraction. The method, based on singular value decomposition, provides a series of nonparametric (impulse response function) models of a system's dynamics without a priori knowledge of its dynamic structure or time-variation, thus enabling study of the neuromuscular system during natural activity. / Application of this method to simulated and experimental data has shown it to be robust and accurate. Ankle dynamics have been tracked during voluntary isometric contraction of triceps surae, revealing behaviour more complex than second-order, characterized by a decrease in the joint's resistance to low frequency perturbations.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.59654 |
| Date | January 1990 |
| Creators | MacNeil, Jon Bart |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Engineering (Department of Mechanical Engineering.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001170251, proquestno: AAIMM66400, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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