Suppression of cutaneous reflexes by a conditioning pulse during human walking. 2006

C M Bastiaanse, and S Degen, and B C M Baken, and V Dietz, and J Duysens
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 Nijmegen, HB, The Netherlands.

There are two ways in which responses to successive unexpected stimuli are attenuated, namely through habituation and conditioning. For the latter, it suffices that the unexpected stimulus is preceded by another just perceivable stimulus. In spinal cord reflexes this is termed conditioning, while in brainstem reflexes this is usually referred to as prepulse inhibition. Cutaneous reflexes in Tibialis Anterior (TA) are particularly strong during gait and they are thought to involve a transcortical loop. Can these reflexes be suppressed by giving a brief pulse prior to a reflex-evoking pulse given to the same nerve? To examine this question, electromyographic signals were recorded in healthy humans during walking. Sural nerve stimulation (train of five pulses (1 ms duration)) at 200 Hz were applied at two times perception threshold during different phases of the step cycle. The preceding pulse (single pulse of 1 ms at same intensity) was applied to the same nerve 150 ms before the reflex-evoking pulse train. Conditioning stimulation with a single pulse lowered significantly the following reflex response in the ipsilateral TA but much less in other muscles such as biceps femoris. The preceding pulse did not disturb the phase-dependent modulation or the typical reflex reversal. The finding that TA is selectively involved indicates that the suppressing mechanism may involve the motor cortex, which is known to be involved in the control of TA. The conditioning pulse did not cause a reduction in background activity. Therefore, the suppression of the reflex responses points to a premotoneuronal source such as presynaptic inhibition.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007266 Inhibition, Psychological The interference with or prevention of a behavioral or verbal response even though the stimulus for that response is present; in psychoanalysis the unconscious restraining of an instinctual process. Inhibition (Psychology),Inhibition, Psychology,Psychological Inhibition,Inhibitions (Psychology),Inhibitions, Psychological,Inhibitions, Psychology,Psychological Inhibitions,Psychology Inhibition,Psychology Inhibitions
D007839 Functional Laterality Behavioral manifestations of cerebral dominance in which there is preferential use and superior functioning of either the left or the right side, as in the preferred use of the right hand or right foot. Ambidexterity,Behavioral Laterality,Handedness,Laterality of Motor Control,Mirror Writing,Laterality, Behavioral,Laterality, Functional,Mirror Writings,Motor Control Laterality,Writing, Mirror,Writings, Mirror
D008297 Male Males
D011930 Reaction Time The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed. Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D012018 Reflex An involuntary movement or exercise of function in a part, excited in response to a stimulus applied to the periphery and transmitted to the brain or spinal cord.
D003213 Conditioning, Psychological Simple form of learning involving the formation, strengthening, or weakening of an association between a stimulus and a response. Conditioning, Psychology,Psychological Conditioning,Social Learning Theory,Social Learning Theories,Theory, Social Learning
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D004576 Electromyography Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes. Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

Related Publications

C M Bastiaanse, and S Degen, and B C M Baken, and V Dietz, and J Duysens
May 2000, Journal of neurophysiology,
C M Bastiaanse, and S Degen, and B C M Baken, and V Dietz, and J Duysens
November 2000, Experimental brain research,
C M Bastiaanse, and S Degen, and B C M Baken, and V Dietz, and J Duysens
January 2006, The Journal of physiology,
C M Bastiaanse, and S Degen, and B C M Baken, and V Dietz, and J Duysens
January 2014, Journal of neurophysiology,
C M Bastiaanse, and S Degen, and B C M Baken, and V Dietz, and J Duysens
February 1998, The Journal of physiology,
C M Bastiaanse, and S Degen, and B C M Baken, and V Dietz, and J Duysens
November 2005, Brain research,
C M Bastiaanse, and S Degen, and B C M Baken, and V Dietz, and J Duysens
December 1992, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology,
C M Bastiaanse, and S Degen, and B C M Baken, and V Dietz, and J Duysens
May 1997, The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience,
C M Bastiaanse, and S Degen, and B C M Baken, and V Dietz, and J Duysens
January 2005, Brain research,
C M Bastiaanse, and S Degen, and B C M Baken, and V Dietz, and J Duysens
July 1999, The Journal of physiology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!