Simulated motion negatively affects motor task but not neuromuscular performance

Abstract

The effects of long duration simulated motion on motor task and neuromuscular performance along with time frames required to recover from these effects are relatively unknown. This study aimed to determine (1) how simulated motion affects motor task and neuromuscular performance over one hour of motion and (2) the time course of recovery from any decrements. The dependent variables that were measured included: reaction time; visuomotor accuracy tracking; maximal voluntary contractions; voluntary activation; evoked contractile properties and biceps brachii electromyography of the elbow flexors. Reaction times and error rates of the visuomotor accuracy tracking task were compromised in motion, but maximal force, voluntary activation, evoked contractile properties and rmsEMG responses of the biceps brachii were unaffected by motion. It is concluded that motion causes an increase in attention demands, which have a greater effect on motor task rather than neuromuscular performance.

Practitioner Summary: Minor delays or mistakes can separate life and death at sea. The safety and productivity of most vessels rely on error-free performance of motor tasks. This study demonstrates that human ability to perform motor tasks is compromised by ship motions and may aid in developing training and safety guidelines for seafarers.

Keywords:

• motion
• reaction time
• visuomotor accuracy tracking
• maximal voluntary contraction
• voluntary activation

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Thamir Alkanani and Matthew Minϵ-Goldring for their technical support. The authors would also like to thank the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency for their financial support of the research project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

^1. Current address: Rehabilitation Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, MacLaurin D017, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.