Four Phases of a Force Transient Emerge from a Binary Mechanical System

Abstract

Models of muscle contraction are important for guiding drug discovery, drug validation, and clinical decision-making with the goal of improving human health. Models of muscle contraction are also key to discovering clean energy technologies from one of the most efficient and clean-burning machines on the planet. However, these important goals can only be met through muscle models that are based on science. Most every model and mechanism (e.g., a molecular power stroke) of muscle contraction described in the literature to date is based on a corpuscular mechanic philosophy that has been challenged by science for over two decades. A thermodynamic model and mechanisms (e.g., a molecular switch) of muscle contraction is supported by science but has not yet been tested against experimental data. Here, I show that following a rapid perturbation to the free energy of a thermodynamic muscle system, a transient force response emerges with four phases, each corresponding to a different clearly-defined thermodynamic (not molecular) process. I compare these four phases to those observed in two classic muscle transient experiments. The observed consistency between model and data implies that the simplest possible model of muscle contraction (a binary mechanical system) accurately describes muscle contraction.