nervous system schematic (IMAGE)
Caption
This schematic illustrates how the body’s motor neurons and muscle fibers are connected before (left) and after (right) developmental pruning. “Each blob corresponds to a motor unit,” Navlakha explains. “Small motor units are highly active, are recruited first during muscle contraction (because their neurons have low firing thresholds), and provide a small force. Large motor units are less active, are recruited last (since their neurons have large firing thresholds), and provide stronger forces.”
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Navlakha lab/Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
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