Fagseksjoner

Doktorgradsstudier

Publikasjoner

Oppdragsforskning

Forskningsprosjekter

Freely chosen pedalling rate as a robust innate voluntary motor rhythm

Ernst Albin Hansen (prosjektleder)

Ann Elisabeth Ohnstad (masterstudent)

 

Analyse/manusskriving

A key area of control of human voluntary rhythmic activity is the influence of sensory feedback. Freely chosen pedalling rate during cycling represents a voluntary rhythmic activity but it is unclear to what extent this is influenced by internal (e.g., metabolic) and external (e.g., mechanical) conditions. It is also unclear just how robust a voluntary motor rhythm the freely chosen pedalling rate actually is. The present study investigated whether the freely chosen pedalling rate during submaximal cycling was affected by separate increases in mechanical loading (e.g., power output and thereby pedal force) and loading on the cardiopulmonary system (e.g., relative values of oxygen uptake and heart rate as well as pulmonary ventilation, changed by exposure to acute simulated altitude of 3000 m above sea level). We also investigated whether the freely chosen pedalling rate and another voluntary motor rhythm, unimanual unloaded index finger tapping rate, shared common characteristics of steadiness and individuality over a 12-week period.