Low Gain Servo Control During the Kohnstamm Phenomenon Reveals Dissociation Between Low-Level Control Mechanisms for Involuntary vs. Voluntary Arm Movements

The Kohnstamm phenomenon is a prolonged involuntary aftercontraction following a sustained voluntary isometric muscle contraction. The control principles of the Kohnstamm have been investigated using mechanical perturbations, but previous studies could not dissociate sensorimotor responses to perturbation from effects of gravity. We induced a horizontal, gravity-independent Kohnstamm movement around the shoulder joint, and applied resistive or assistive torques of 0.5 Nm after 20 degrees angular displacement. A No perturbation control condition was included. Further, participants made velocity-matched voluntary movements, with or without similar perturbations, yielding a 2 x 3 factorial design. Resistive perturbations produced an increase in agonist electromyography (EMG), in both Kohnstamm and voluntary movements, while assistive perturbations produced a decrease. While overall Kohnstamm EMGs were greater than voluntary EMGs, the EMG responses to perturbation, when expressed as a percentage of unperturbed EMG activity, were significantly smaller during Kohnstamm movements than during voluntary movements. The results suggest that the Kohnstamm aftercontraction involves a central drive, coupled with low-gain servo control by a negative feedback loop between afferent input and a central motor command. The combination of strong efferent drive with low reflex gain may characterize involuntary control of postural muscles. Our results question traditional accounts involving purely reflexive mechanisms of postural maintenance. They also question existing high-gain, peripheral accounts of the Kohnstamm phenomenon, as well as accounts involving a central adaptation interacting with muscle receptors via a positive force feedback loop.