Assistive loading promotes goal-directed tuning of stretch reflex gains

Voluntary movements are prepared before they are executed. Preparatory activity has been observed across the CNS and recently documented in first order neurons of the human PNS i.e., in muscle spindles. The changes seen in these sensory organs suggest that the independent modulation of stretch reflex gains may represent an important component of movement preparation. The aim of the current study was to further investigate the preparatory modulation of short- and long-latency stretch reflex responses (‘SLR’ and ‘LLR’) of the dominant upper limb. Specifically, we investigated how different target parameters (target distance and direction) affect the preparatory tuning of stretch reflex gains in the context of goal-directed reaching, and whether any such tuning depends on preparation duration and the direction of background loads. We found that target distance produced only small variations in reflex gains. In contrast, both SLR and LLR gains were strongly modulated as a function of target direction, in a manner that facilitated the upcoming voluntary movement. This goal-directed tuning of SLR and LLR gains was present or enhanced when the preparatory delay was sufficiently long (>250 ms) and the homonymous muscle was unloaded i.e., when a background load was first applied in the direction of homonymous muscle action (assistive loading). The results extend further support for a relatively slow-evolving process in reach preparation that functions to modulate reflexive muscle stiffness, likely via the independent control of fusimotor neurons. Such control can augment voluntary goal-directed movement and is triggered or enhanced when the homonymous muscle is unloaded. Significance Statement It is well-known that movement preparation improves motor performance. That is, briefly delaying the onset of a goal-directed movement can significantly benefit the overall quality of movement. However, the mechanisms underlying movement preparation remain unclear. In this study we examined the preparatory modulation of short- and long-latency stretch reflex responses in the dominant upper limb. We found that goal-directed tuning of stretch reflex gains is consistently triggered or enhanced in cases where preparation is sufficiently long (>250 ms) and a background -‘assistive’- load is first applied in the direction of homonymous muscle action. A better understanding of movement preparation will likely also benefit the development of rehabilitation regimes and movement augmentation devices.