Coherence between motor unit discharge patterns investigated using a motoneuron model

The influence of common oscillatory inputs to the motoneuron pool on the coherence between motor unit discharge patterns was examined using model simulations. The amount of coherence between coactive motor units was investigated as the frequency and amplitude of common oscillatory inputs to the motoneuron pool were varied. Coherence between simulated motor units was evident at the frequency of the applied common input signal. The frequency range over which significant coherence was observed increased with increasing bandwidth of the common input signal. The magnitude of the coherence increased both with increasing amplitude of the common input and as the ratio of common fluctuations to independent membrane noise increased