Study Explores Contribution of Calcium, Sodium Inward Currents to Human Motor Activity

Newswise — Article title: Estimation of self-sustained activity produced by persistent inward currents using firing rate profiles of multiple motor units in humans

Authors: Babak Afsharipour, Nagib Manzur, Jennifer Duchcherer, Keith F. Fenrich, Christopher K. Thompson, Francesco Negro, Katharina A. Quinlan, David J. Bennett, Monica A. Gorassini

From the authors: “A new method of estimating synaptic drive to multiple, simultaneously recorded motor units provides evidence that the portion of the depolarizing drive from persistent inward currents that contributes to self-sustained firing is similar across motoneurons of different sizes.” 

This study is highlighted as one of August’s "best of the best" as part of the American Physiological Society's APSselect program.