Neural Network Firing Pattern:
If the brain were the only thing to control muscle movement, our reaction to
unexpected events would be extremely slow. The human neural system compensates
for this through a series of neurons located in our spinal cord that help control
our movement and generate reflex movements. Using a network of Alpha- and Gamma-
motoneurons, Afferent, and Renshaw cells, our bodies can detect variances in muscle
tension and velocity that our brains would have trouble computing quickly.
After the Alpha-motoneuron fires, it sends a signal not only to the muscle
bundle, but also to every other Renshaw cell that controls a nearby muscle bundle. If the
arm is moving too quickly (meaning the Alpha-motoneurons are firing too quickly), an
inhibitory signal is sent back to all the Alpha-motoneurons to prevent overexertion.
The opposite is true when it comes to the arm moving too slowly. Inside each muscle
bundle are different types of muscle fibers. The extrafusal muscle fibers are those
responsible for the tension that results in movement, but there are also intrafusal muscle
fibers that help determine the current velocity and tension of the muscle bundle. If
there is a lot of tension, yet the arm has zero velocity (i.e. the arm isn't moving),
then the intrafusal fibers signal to the Afferent cells that the Alpha-motoneurons
need to fire faster. To prevent the Afferent cells from creating a self-propagating
signal, the Alpha-motoneuron sends an inhibitory signal to the Afferent cell each time
it fires. This network of neurons, when balanced with the right weights, can achieve
a smooth arm movement that closely matches that of the target.