Multi-scale Modelling of the Human Neuromuscular System for Symbiotic Human-Machine Motor Interaction

Abstract

Advances in neurophysiology are enabling understanding the neural processing underlying human movement, i.e. the recruitment of spinal motor neurons and the transmission of the resulting neural drive to the innervated muscle fibers. Similarly, advances in musculoskeletal modeling are enabling understanding movement mechanics at the level of muscle forces. However, despite detailed knowledge at the individual neural and musculoskeletal levels, our understanding of the neuro-mechanical interplay underlying movement is still limited. This paper presents recent techniques for probing the activity of spinal motor neuron pools as well as how this translates into musculoskeletal mechanical function. We then translate this in the context of robotic exoskeletons for establishing a class of human-machine interfaces that can open a window into human neuromuscular states. This represents an important step for the creation of symbiotic exoskeletons.