The source of the EMG signal is what?

The source of the EMG (electromyography) signal is muscle action potentials. When a muscle is activated, electrical signals, known as action potentials, travel along motor neurons and stimulate muscle fibers. These action potentials reflect the electrical activity occurring during muscle contraction, resulting in the generation of an electromyographic signal that can be recorded and analyzed.

The understanding of muscle action potentials as the source of EMG signals is fundamental in biofeedback and neuromuscular applications, as they provide insight into muscle function, coordination, and rehabilitation processes.

While muscle tension and muscle contraction are important aspects of muscle function, they are not the direct source of the EMG signal. Muscle tension refers to the overall force exerted by muscles at rest or during contraction, while muscle contraction involves the physical shortening and activation of muscle fibers but is governed by underlying action potentials. Nerve impulses lay the foundation for muscle action but are not the same as the action potentials generated within the muscle tissue itself.