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Synergies in Health and Disease: Relations to Adaptive Changes in Motor Coordination

ML Latash, PhD, is Professor, Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, 200 Biomechanics Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802-3408 (USA).
JG Anson, PhD, is Associate Professor, School of Physical Education, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

mll11{at}psu.edu. Address all correspondence to Dr Latash

This article describes an approach to motor synergies that allows them to be quantified in people with atypical movement patterns during exercise or practice. Within this approach, motor variability may be classified with respect to a task-specific performance variable as "good" (not affecting the variable) or "bad" (changing the variable). The authors review studies of motor synergies in people with typical movement patterns, in people with Down syndrome, in patients after stroke, and in elderly people. Two stages of practice effects on motor synergies are described as being characterized by different changes in the synergy index: an increase followed by a drop in the index. Synergy changes with practice may be accompanied by plastic changes in both descending projections from the primary cortex and interhemispheric projections. The authors emphasize the importance—for practitioners in the area of motor disorders and rehabilitation—of being aware of the latest progress in motor control and coordination.

Key Words: Aging • Down syndrome • Motor control • Plasticity • Practice • Synergy

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. Zhang, J. P. Scholz, V. M. Zatsiorsky, and M. L. Latash What Do Synergies Do? Effects of Secondary Constraints on Multidigit Synergies in Accurate Force-Production Tasks J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2008; 99(2): 500 - 513. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]