Uwe Windhorst
Encyclopedia
Uwe Windhorst is a German neuroscientist
, systems scientist and cyberneticist
,who was born in Bremen, Germany in 1946. Windhorst became known for his pioneer research in the use of diverse methods of correlation, spectral analysis as well as nonlinear systems analysis to describe the dynamic properties of signal transmission through small neuronal networks assessed in experimental animals.
muscle contraction based on sensory signal arising in muscles and skin and on neuronal networks predominantly in the spinal cord
and brainstem. In this wider context, one line of research strived to elucidate the dynamic signal processing of the participating neurons, such as muscle spindles, motoneurons and interneurons (particularly Renshaw cells) and their importance for oscillatory process such as tremor
. Related issues were the plastic properties of such networks and their modulation by signals arising in the peripheral and central nervous system, specifically in the context of muscle fatigue. A related aspect of research concerned the origin of muscle pain and its effects on spinal neurons. In addition to experimental studies, computer modeling was used to unravel the properties of small neuronal networks, especially with respect to tremor
.
at the University of Göttingen in Germany
, where he also earned his PhD and his Habilitation
in Neurophysiology
. He became Distinguished Professor in 1987.
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
, systems scientist and cyberneticist
Cyberneticist
A cyberneticist or a cybernetician is a person who practices cybernetics.Heinz von Foerster once told Stuart Umpleby that Norbert Wiener preferred the term "cybernetician" rather than "cyberneticist", perhaps because Wiener was a mathematician rather than a physicist.On the other hand, Nicolas...
,who was born in Bremen, Germany in 1946. Windhorst became known for his pioneer research in the use of diverse methods of correlation, spectral analysis as well as nonlinear systems analysis to describe the dynamic properties of signal transmission through small neuronal networks assessed in experimental animals.
Contributions in Neurophysiology
Windhorst's research has revolved around the control of skeletalSkeletal muscle
Skeletal muscle is a form of striated muscle tissue existing under control of the somatic nervous system- i.e. it is voluntarily controlled. It is one of three major muscle types, the others being cardiac and smooth muscle...
muscle contraction based on sensory signal arising in muscles and skin and on neuronal networks predominantly in the spinal cord
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
and brainstem. In this wider context, one line of research strived to elucidate the dynamic signal processing of the participating neurons, such as muscle spindles, motoneurons and interneurons (particularly Renshaw cells) and their importance for oscillatory process such as tremor
Tremor
A tremor is an involuntary, somewhat rhythmic, muscle contraction and relaxation involving to-and-fro movements of one or more body parts. It is the most common of all involuntary movements and can affect the hands, arms, eyes, face, head, vocal folds, trunk, and legs. Most tremors occur in the...
. Related issues were the plastic properties of such networks and their modulation by signals arising in the peripheral and central nervous system, specifically in the context of muscle fatigue. A related aspect of research concerned the origin of muscle pain and its effects on spinal neurons. In addition to experimental studies, computer modeling was used to unravel the properties of small neuronal networks, especially with respect to tremor
Tremor
A tremor is an involuntary, somewhat rhythmic, muscle contraction and relaxation involving to-and-fro movements of one or more body parts. It is the most common of all involuntary movements and can affect the hands, arms, eyes, face, head, vocal folds, trunk, and legs. Most tremors occur in the...
.
Education
Between 1968 and 1974, he studied medicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the University of Göttingen in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, where he also earned his PhD and his Habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
in Neurophysiology
Neurophysiology
Neurophysiology is a part of physiology. Neurophysiology is the study of nervous system function...
. He became Distinguished Professor in 1987.
List of major works
- Windhorst, U. and Schwestka, R. (1982): Interactions between motor units in modulating discharge patterns of primary muscle spindle endings. Exp. Brain Res. 45, 417 427
- Christakos, C.N. and Windhorst, U. (1986): The information carried by spindle afferents on motor unit activity as revealed by spectral analysis. Brain Res. 367, 52 62
- Hamm, T.M., Sasaki, S., Stuart, D.G., Windhorst, U. and Yuan, C. S. (1987): The measurement of single motor axon recurrent inhibitory post synaptic potentials in the cat. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 388, 631 651
- Windhorst, U., Rissing, R., Meyer Lohmann, J., Laouris, Y. and Kuipers, U. (1988): Facilitation and depression in the responses of spinal Renshaw cells to random stimulation of motor axons. J. Neurophysiol. 60, 1638 1652
- Laouris, Y., Windhorst, U., Rissing, R., Kuipers, U. and Meyer Lohmann, J. (1988): Time constants of facilitation and depression in Renshaw cell responses to random stimulation of motor axons. Exp. Brain Res. 72, 117 128
- Laouris, Y. and Windhorst, U. (1989): The relationship between coherence and nonlinear characteristics in Renshaw cell responses to random motor axon stimulation. Neurosci. 28, 625 633
- Richter, D.W., Bischoff, A., Anders, K., Bellingham, M. and Windhorst, U. (1991): Response of the medullary respiratory network of the cat to hypoxia. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 443, 231-256
- Windhorst, U., Kirmayer, D., Soibelman, F., Misri, A. and Rose, R. (1997): Effects of neurochemically excited group III-IV muscle afferents on motoneuron afterhyperpolarization. Neurosci. 76, 915-929
- Roatta, S., Windhorst, U., Ljubisavljevic, M., Johansson, H., Passatore, M. (2002) Sympathetic modulation of muscle spindle afferent sensitivity to stretch in rabbit jaw closing muscles. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 540.1: 237-248
- Kalezic, I., Bugaychenko, L.A., Kostyukov, A.I., Pilyavskii, A.I., Ljubisavljevic, M., Windhorst, U., and Johansson, H. (2003) Fatigue-related depression of the feline monosynaptic gastrocnemius-soleus reflex. J. Physiol. (Lond) 556:283-296
- Pilyavskii, A.I., Maznychenko, A.V., Maisky, V.A., Kostyukov, A.I., Hellström, F., and Windhorst, U. (2005) Capsaicin-induced effects on c-fos expression and NADPH-diaphorase activity in the feline spinal cord. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 521:70-78
- Kostyukov, A.I., Bugaychenko, L.A., Kalezic, I., Pilyavskii, A.I., Windhorst, U., and Djupsjöbacka, M. (2005) Effects in feline gastrocnemius-soleus motoneurones induced by muscle fatigue. Exp. Brain Res. 163:284-294
- Vieira, T.M., Windhorst, U., and Merletti, R. (2010) Is the stabilization of quiet upright stance in humans driven by synchronized modulations of the activity of medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscles? J Appl Physiol 108:85-97
Reviews
- Windhorst, U., Hamm, T.M. and Stuart, D.G. (1989): On the function of muscle and reflex partitioning. Beh. Brain Sci. 12, 629 645
- Windhorst, U. (1996): The spinal cord and its brain: representations and models. To what extent do forebrain mechanisms appear at brainstem and spinal cord levels? Prog. Neurobiol. 49, 381-414
- Windhorst, U. (1996): On the role of recurrent inhibitory feedback in motor control. Prog. Neurobiol. 49, 517-587
- Windhorst, U. (2007) Muscle proprioceptive feedback and spinal networks. Brain Res. Bull. 73:155-202
Books written and edited
- Windhorst, U. (1988): How brain like is the spinal cord? Interacting cell assemblies in the nervous system. Springer Verlag; Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, London, Paris, Tokyo
- Greger, R. and Windhorst U. (eds.) (1996) Comprehensive human physiology. From cellular mechanisms to integration. Springer-Verlag; Berlin, Heidelberg
- Windhorst, U. and Johansson, H. (eds.) Modern techniques in neuroscience research. Springer-Verlag; Berlin, Heidelberg 1999
- Johansson, H., Windhorst, U., Djupsjöbacka, M., and Passatore, M. (eds.) Chronic work-related myalgia. Neuromuscular mechanisms behind work-related chronic muscle pain syndromes. Gävle University Press, Gävle (Sweden) 2003
- Binder MD, Hirokawa N, Windhorst U (eds) Encyclopedia of neuroscience. Springer-Verlag; Berlin Heidelberg 2009