Reverse engineering of motor unit discharge in multiple sclerosis reveals heterogeneity of voluntary motor commands

A study examined motor commands in 89 people with multiple sclerosis and 34 healthy controls using a novel reverse engineering method of motor units. Researchers analyzed three fundamental components of motor commands: excitatory, inhibitory, and neuromodulatory inputs to motor neurons. Results showed abnormalities in all three components in multiple sclerosis patients. Neuromodulation exhibited both high and low extremes. Unlike other studied populations showing relative consistency, the pathophysiology of motor commands in multiple sclerosis varies significantly among individual patients. This heterogeneity reflects a characteristic feature of the disease itself.