THE EFFECT OF EARLY MOVEMENT RESTRICTION - AN EMG STUDY IN THE RAT

The effect of early immobilization upon the adult locomotor pattern wa s studied. One hindlimb of neonatal rats was immobilized during 20 day s and the EMG pattern was studied 3-8 weeks after termination of movem ent restriction. All rats showed a fluent locomotion pattern at these ages, but the EMG pattern revealed differences in the timing of flexor and extensor activity between the previously immobilized and the cont ralateral side. We suggest that interference with movement related aff erent feedback at young ages has subtle but long-lasting effects upon the locomotion generating neural circuits.