Short time Fourier analysis of the electromyogram: fast movements and constant contraction

We applied short-time Fourier analysis to surface electromyograms (EMG) recorded during rapid movements, and during isometric contractions at constant forces. We selected a portion of the data to be transformed by multiplying the signal by a Hamming window, then computed the discrete Fourier transform. Shifting the window along the data record, we computed a new spectrum each 10 ms. We displayed the transformed data in spectograms or "voiceprints." This short-time technique allowed us to see time-dependencies in the EMG that are normally averaged in the Fourier analysis of these signals. Spectra of EMG's during isometric contractions at constant force vary in the short (10-20 ms) term. Moments of the spectral distribution show this variability. Short-time spectra from EMG's recorded during rapid movements were much less variable. The windowing technique picked out the typical "three-burst pattern" in EMG's from both wrist and head movements. Spectra during the bursts were more consistent than those during isometric contractions. Furthermore, there was a consistent shift in spectral statistics in the course of the three bursts. Both the center frequency and the variance of the spectral energy distribution grew from the first burst to the second burst in the same muscle. We discuss this pattern with respect to the origin of the EMG bursts in rapid movement. We also extend the analogy between electromyograms and speech signals to argue for future applicability of short-time spectral analysis of EMG.