Motoneurons and Neuromuscular Systems: Overview

Definition

Motoneuron models are mathematical representations of motoneuron structure and function. Neuromuscular models represent computational models of neural components integrated with muscle models at various levels of detail and complexities. These models provide a computational framework for investigating neural control of movement. Together, motoneuron and neuromuscular models can guide the development of biomimetic neuromuscular control systems and neural prostheses.

Detailed Description

Motor neurons (or motoneurons) are the final common pathway for all neural drive to the skeletal musculature. Each motoneuron innervates one or more muscle fibers and the cell bodies of motoneurons are somatotopically organized in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Motoneurons were among the first neurons to be studied in great detail by experimentalists largely due to their unique position as output neurons of the nervous system. The rich tradition of the experimental work dates back to the...