New research shows that the spinal cord’s built-in amplifier—persistent inward currents—boosts muscle output more in the late afternoon, revealing a circadian rhythm in neural excitability.
Three things to remember
- PIC prolongation and amplification increase in the afternoon, enhancing motor neuron output.
- Reduced inhibitory input, not neuromodulatory drive, likely drives the diurnal effect.
- Findings suggest spinal gain modulation fluctuates with the circadian clock.
Source
This signal is based on Diurnal Modulation of Persistent Inward Current Contribution to Spinal Motor Neuron Behaviour from biorxiv. Read the original report for full context.
Health note: Small study on one muscle; mechanism inferred, not directly measured.