Stroke Disrupts How Brain Controls Muscle Synergies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Study

8/21/2012 7:39:30 AM

The simple act of picking up a pencil requires the coordination of dozens of muscles: The eyes and head must turn toward the object as the hand reaches forward and the fingers grasp it. To make this job more manageable, the brain’s motor cortex has implemented a system of shortcuts. Instead of controlling each muscle independently, the cortex is believed to activate muscles in groups, known as “muscle synergies.” These synergies can be combined in different ways to achieve a wide range of movements.

Read at MedicalXpress

Read at News Release

Read at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Read Article at

Related Companies

News Categories

• MedicalXpress

• News Release

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

• Academic / Research - Research news

• Clinical - Research