Reflexes induced by nerve stimulation in walking cats with implanted cuff electrodes. 1978

J Duysens, and R B Stein

Neural cuffs, implanted around various hindlimb nerves (sural, common peroneal, posterior tibial), were used to deliver brief stimulus trains to unrestrained cats walking on a treadmill. The resulting perturbations of the step cycle were evaluated by analyzing the EMG bursts recorded from the ankle extensors and by high speed cinematography. It was found that relatively weak stimulation (1.4 to 2 X T) of the posterior tibial nerve was very effective in eliciting a prolongation of the flexion phase provided the stimuli were applied just prior to the expected onset of the ankle extensor EMG burst. This ipsilateral hyperflexion was correlated with a prolongation of the contralateral extension. The same stimuli applied during stance usually evoked a yielding of the stimulated leg and a prolongation of the ongoing contralateral stance. In addition to these flexor and extensor reflex effects, it was found that low threshold stimulation of the sural and common peroneal nerves resulted in a powerful reflex activation of the ankle extensors. In contrast, stimulation of the gastrocnemius-soleus nerve (a muscle nerve) produced no discernible behavioral effects, even for stimuli at 3 X T, indicating that the observed reflexes are probably mediated by cutaneous afferents. The results were largely confirmed in experiments using the same cuffs implanted in spontaneously walking premammilliary cats.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008124 Locomotion Movement or the ability to move from one place or another. It can refer to humans, vertebrate or invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Locomotor Activity,Activities, Locomotor,Activity, Locomotor,Locomotor Activities
D009132 Muscles Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals. Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D010543 Peroneal Nerve The lateral of the two terminal branches of the sciatic nerve. The peroneal (or fibular) nerve provides motor and sensory innervation to parts of the leg and foot. Fibular Nerve,Fibular Nerves,Nerve, Fibular,Nerve, Peroneal,Nerves, Fibular,Nerves, Peroneal,Peroneal Nerves
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.
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
D004567 Electrodes, Implanted Surgically placed electric conductors through which ELECTRIC STIMULATION is delivered to or electrical activity is recorded from a specific point inside the body. Implantable Electrodes,Implantable Stimulation Electrodes,Implanted Electrodes,Implanted Stimulation Electrodes,Electrode, Implantable,Electrode, Implantable Stimulation,Electrode, Implanted,Electrode, Implanted Stimulation,Electrodes, Implantable,Electrodes, Implantable Stimulation,Electrodes, Implanted Stimulation,Implantable Electrode,Implantable Stimulation Electrode,Implanted Electrode,Implanted Stimulation Electrode,Stimulation Electrode, Implantable,Stimulation Electrode, Implanted,Stimulation Electrodes, Implantable,Stimulation Electrodes, Implanted
D006614 Hindlimb Either of two extremities of four-footed non-primate land animals. It usually consists of a FEMUR; TIBIA; and FIBULA; tarsals; METATARSALS; and TOES. (From Storer et al., General Zoology, 6th ed, p73) Hindlimbs
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012584 Sciatic Nerve A nerve which originates in the lumbar and sacral spinal cord (L4 to S3) and supplies motor and sensory innervation to the lower extremity. The sciatic nerve, which is the main continuation of the sacral plexus, is the largest nerve in the body. It has two major branches, the TIBIAL NERVE and the PERONEAL NERVE. Nerve, Sciatic,Nerves, Sciatic,Sciatic Nerves
D013497 Sural Nerve A branch of the tibial nerve which supplies sensory innervation to parts of the lower leg and foot. Nerve, Sural,Nerves, Sural,Sural Nerves

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