Project phases

The project consists of the following five work packages (WP):

WP1: Design and implementation of a methodology for identification and analysis of MU merging ( responsible partner: UM FEECS)
The objectives of this WP1 are to develop a new methodology for:
  1. Task 1.1. Identification of the number of MUs in merged MU spike trains
  2. Task 1.2. Identification of MU recruitment and derecruitment in merged MU spike trains
  3. Task 1.3. Accuracy assessment of MU identification in merged and unmerged MU spike trains
  4. Task 1.4. Methods for assessment of anatomical properties of merged and unmerged MUs

WP2: Design and implementation of a methodology for analysis of MU functional and anatomical clustering ( responsible partner: UM FEECS)
This WP aims to develop the methodology for the assessment of anatomical clustering (based on MU merging) and functional clustering (based on MU recruitment and discharge patterns). This will include:
  1. Task 2.1. Methods for anatomical MU clustering analysis
  2. Task 2.2. Impact of nonlinearities of motoneuron transfer functions on the MU functional coupling assessment
  3. Task 2.3. Methods for assessment of functional MU clustering
  4. Task 2.4. Methodology for the analysis of functional and anatomical MU coupling variability across different experimental conditions

WP3: Analysis of MU clustering in different experimental conditions ( responsible partner: SRC Koper)
This WP will assess the consistency of MU merging and functional coupling across different contractions of skeletal muscles. The WP3 consists of the following tasks:
  1. Task 3.1. Repeatability analysis of MU merging and functional coupling in short isometric contractions
  2. Task 3.2. Analysis of MU merging and coupling during long and fatiguing isometric contractions
  3. Task 3.3. Analysis of MU merging and functional coupling in controlled dynamic movements
  4. Task 3.4. Analysis of MU merging and coupling in elicited contractions
  5. Task 3.5. Analysis of MU merging and coupling after block of Ia afferent transmission
  6. Task 3.6. Comparison of MU merging and coupling across different conditions

WP4: Impact of merged MU spike trains inclusion on MU behaviour studies ( responsible partner: UM FEECS)
In this WP, we will demonstrate the potential for exploiting the newly developed methodology for the identification of MU clusters and the assessment of MU properties in these clusters. The WP4 consists of the following tasks:
  1. Task 4.1. Analysis of MU merging in skeletal muscles with low yield of MUs in HDEMG decomposition
  2. Task 4.2. Comparison of MU merging in different sizes and interelectrode distances of HDEMG electrode arrays
  3. Task 4.3. Comparison of MU merging in males and females
  4. Task 4.4. Analysis of the need for manual editing of decomposition results in merged and unmerged MU spike trains

WP5: Exploitation and dissemination of project results (responsible partner: UM FEECS)
The objectives of WP5 are to maximise the exploitability of the results and activities related to the overall management of the project.. Activities are organised as follows:
  1. Task 5.1. Data management
  2. Task 5.2. Maximisation of project outcomes exploitability
  3. Task 5.3. Assessment of the socio-economic impact of the project’s results
  4. Task 5.4. Dissemination and communication of project results

The following data and knowledge management principles will be enforced during the project implementation:
  1. Open policy
  2. Knowledge management
  3. Data management
  4. Dissemination
  5. IP management

The project coordinator (Dr. A. Holobar, UM FEECS) will supervise all processes and development activities and ensure that the partners will follow existing quality rules, regulations and ethical requirements, with the support of the external ethics advisors (when required), and that the work performed is fully compliant with the legal and ethical requirements. This includes a) risk monitoring, b) risk assessment, c) coordination of contingencies.