Effects of neck muscle vibration on motor planning in healthy young adults

INTERVENTION: The intervention will consist of experimentally induced, high‐frequency, low‐amplitude mechanical vibration applied to cervical muscles to transiently alter proprioceptive afferent input. Vibration will be delivered using portable mechanical vibration devices affixed to the skin over the right sternocleidomastoid muscle and left cervical extensor muscles using Hypafi Xtape. Participants randomly assigned to the active intervention group will receive mechanical vibration at a frequency of 100 Hz with an amplitude of less than 1 mm for a single continuous period of 10 minutes. The intervention will be delivered once during a single laboratory visit following baseline assessments. The intervention will be delivered face‐to‐face on an individual basis in a controlled laboratory environment at a university research facility by trained research personnel with experience in neuromuscular and neurophysiological experimental protocols. Intervention fidelity will be ensured through the use of identical vibration devices and standardized placement procedures across participants. Adherence will be ensured through direct supervision by research staff, and completion of the full 10‐minute stimulation period will be confirmed for all participants. CONDITION: Motor Planning in Healthy Adults;Cortical activity associated with voluntary movement preparation; ; Motor Planning in Healthy Adults ; Cortical activity associated with voluntary movement preparation Neurological ‐ Studies of the normal brain and nervous system PRIMARY OUTCOME: Change in movement‐related cortical potentials associated with motor preparation (Bereitschaftspotential)[Movement‐related cortical potentials will be recorded using electroencephalography (EEG) during a voluntary motor task involving repeated, cued hand contractions. EEG signals will be collected using a 64‐channel electrode cap and recorded using Advanced Source Analysis software (ASA version 4.10.1, ANT Neuro Imaging, The Netherlands). The motor preparation component (Bereitschaftspotential) will be extracted from averaged EEG signals time‐locked to movement onset and quantified using amplitude analysis. Baseline (pre‐intervention) and immediately post‐intervention] Change in movement‐related cortical potentials associated with motor execution (motor potential)[Movement‐related cortical potentials will be recorded using electroencephalography (EEG) during a voluntary motor task involving repeated, cued hand contractions. EEG signals will be collected using a 64‐channel electrode cap and recorded using Advanced Source Analysis software (ASA version 4.10.1, ANT Neuro Imaging, The Netherlands). The motor execution component (motor potential) will be extracted from averaged EEG signals time‐locked to movement onset and quantified using amplitude analysis. Baseline (pre‐intervention) and immediately post‐intervention] Change in movement‐related cortical potentials associated with motor preparation (negative slope)[Movement‐related cortical potentials will be recorded using electroencephalography (EEG) during a voluntary motor task involving repeated, cued hand contractions. EEG signals will be collected using a 64‐channel electrode cap and recorded using Advanced Source Analysis software (ASA version 4.10.1, ANT Neuro Imaging, The Netherlands). The negative slope component will be extracted from averaged EEG signals time‐locked to 500 ms prior to movement onset and quantified using amplitude analysis. Baseline (pre‐intervention) and immediately post‐intervention] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Change in movement‐related cortical potential (MRCP) latency[MRCP latencies will be derived from EEG recordings collected during repeated, cued hand contractions using a 64‐channel electrode cap. Latency of MRCP components (including Bereitschaftspotential, negative slope, and motor potential timing) will be determined from averaged EEG signals time‐locked to movement onset using signal processing software. Baseline (pre‐intervention) and immediately post‐intervention] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Participants must be males and females aged 17 – 30, who are attending Ontario Tech University. All participants are required to be healthy and are to be free from chronic or recurrent neck, shoulder, or back pain. All participants will be screened for these inclusion and exclusion criteria using the chronic pain grade scale questionnaire and must have a score of less than 1 to be eligible. Right‐handed individuals will be tested due to known differences in cortical excitability and sensorimotor processing between dominant and non‐dominant limbs. Participants who score > +40 on the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (Deemed right‐handed) will be included in this study. Participants that are deemed ambidextrous, but have a strong inclination for right‐hand dominance will also be included in the study