Neural and Muscular Plasticity in Motor and Postural Control

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to address neural and muscular plasticity in motor and postural control. Neural plasticity in motor and postural control occurs at the cortical, subcortical, and spinal levels. At the cortical level, the motor cortex can reorganize its motor maps following training or injury. Motor learning (e.g., learning a new motor task) induces lasting synaptic changes. Non-invasive brain stimulation can modulate this plasticity for rehabilitation purposes. At the subcortical level, the cerebellum plays a central role in adjusting movements and posture through motor learning (error-based learning). The basal ganglia are involved in the automation of movement. At the spinal level, reflex circuits (such as stretch reflexes) can be modulated with training. Mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and interneuron modulation enable rapid postural adaptations.

Muscle plasticity occurs in responses to training as well as in responses to disuse or disease. In terms of responses to training, different workloads (e.g., strength or endurance training) change muscle morphology, muscle fiber composition, vascularization, enzymatic composition and activity, sensory sensitivity, and neurotransmitter synthesis. These changes/adaptations are likely, at least in part, to improve motor output (e.g., muscle power and strength, rate of force development, muscle endurance, movement/motor control) and postural balance (e.g., improved stabilization of the trunk or lower limbs). In terms of responses to disuse or disease, in cases of immobilization or neurological disease (e.g., stroke, multiple sclerosis), muscles can atrophy and lose their motor output. Rehabilitation aims to reverse or compensate for these structural and functional involutions.

Postural function plasticity occurs specifically at the level of sensorimotor integration (i.e., visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive signals). This plasticity allows adaptation to changing environments and motor and postural experience. Postural training (i.e., postural exercises/tasks) improves intermuscular coordination, strengthens the corticospinal circuits involved in balance, and refines the automation of postural adjustments.

Despite these relatively well-known adaptations, there is still much to discover in terms of information perception, central integration, movement control and command and postural balance control. Therefore, exploratory research is needed to deepen our understanding of neural and muscular plasticity in motor and postural control. Here, we call for papers that address how this neural plasticity occurs in relation to motor and postural behavior.

Prof. Dr. Thierry Paillard
Guest Editor

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• postural balance
• motor behaviour
• movement
• posture
• postural adjustments
• neural plasticity
• perception, sensory integration
• intermuscular coordination