Biomaterial Database

Long-lasting conditioning of the human soleus H reflex following quadriceps tendon tap. 1995

J Cheng, and J D Brooke, and W R Staines, and J E Misiaszek, and J Hoare

Human Neurophysiology Laboratory, School of Human Biology, University of Guelph, Ont., Canada.

Percussion of the quadriceps tendon was used to test the hypothesis that knee extensor muscle spindle discharge initiates down-regulation of the gain of the soleus H reflex. Seven subjects participated. Soleus H reflex magnitude was observed for up to 15 s, following conditioning tendon taps of 60 N or 80 N force and 10 ms duration, with the knee at 60 degrees or 90 degrees of flexion. The tap elicited quadriceps stretch reflexes in four subjects, with a mean latency of 42 ms. The major component of the conditioning of the soleus H reflex was significant attenuation of magnitude by 30-90% of controls, starting as early as 36 ms post-percussion and lasting as long as 3-8 s. The attenuation of reflex magnitude was evident, whichever combination of duration and force of tap was used. Preceding and/or following this inhibition, there was mild facilitation. Static stretch of quadriceps also significantly reduced soleus H reflex magnitude. These results support the spindle receptor origin for the gain attenuation seen during movement. The time course of the gain attenuation suggests a spinal route, by which the spindle discharge of the heteronymous extensor muscles initiates presynaptic inhibition of transmission through the reflex pathway.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009434	Neural Pathways	Neural tracts connecting one part of the nervous system with another.	Neural Interconnections,Interconnection, Neural,Interconnections, Neural,Neural Interconnection,Neural Pathway,Pathway, Neural,Pathways, Neural
D012026	Reflex, Stretch	Reflex contraction of a muscle in response to stretching, which stimulates muscle proprioceptors.	Reflex, Tendon,Stretch Reflex,Tendon Reflex
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
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
D006181	H-Reflex	A monosynaptic reflex elicited by stimulating a nerve, particularly the tibial nerve, with an electric shock.	H Reflex,H-Reflexes,H Reflexes,Reflex, H
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D015536	Down-Regulation	A negative regulatory effect on physiological processes at the molecular, cellular, or systemic level. At the molecular level, the major regulatory sites include membrane receptors, genes (GENE EXPRESSION REGULATION), mRNAs (RNA, MESSENGER), and proteins.	Receptor Down-Regulation,Down-Regulation (Physiology),Downregulation,Down Regulation,Down-Regulation, Receptor
D018482	Muscle, Skeletal	A subtype of striated muscle, attached by TENDONS to the SKELETON. Skeletal muscles are innervated and their movement can be consciously controlled. They are also called voluntary muscles.	Anterior Tibial Muscle,Gastrocnemius Muscle,Muscle, Voluntary,Plantaris Muscle,Skeletal Muscle,Soleus Muscle,Muscle, Anterior Tibial,Muscle, Gastrocnemius,Muscle, Plantaris,Muscle, Soleus,Muscles, Skeletal,Muscles, Voluntary,Skeletal Muscles,Tibial Muscle, Anterior,Voluntary Muscle,Voluntary Muscles