Motor unit activity in upper airway muscles genioglossus and tensor palatini

Abstract

Common oscillatory inputs to genioglossus (GG) and tensor palatini (TP) motoneurons were assessed using coherence analysis. Oscillations in the ranges 0-5. Hz (common drive) and 10-30. Hz (short term synchrony) were analyzed. GG and TP electromyograms were recorded via intramuscular fine wire electrodes in 32 subjects during wakefulness. Coherence analysis was conducted on 201 pairs of motor units paired according to their discharge patterns. Results were similar for the two muscles. Common drive was significantly higher for unilateral than bilateral pairs of units (p< .001), and was highest in Inspiratory Tonic pairs and lowest in Tonic pairs (p< .001). Pairs constructed from one muscle had..