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Neither a general flexor nor a withdrawal pattern of nociceptive reflexes evoked from the human foot
J Ellrich1, H Steffens, E D Schomburg
1Institute of Physiology, University of Erlangen, D-91054, Erlangen, Germany.
Neuroscience Research
|May 10, 2000
Abstract:
In humans motor reactions to noxious radiant heat stimulation of the sole and the dorsum of the foot do not resemble a locally specific pattern of multiple modular withdrawal reflexes but rather a general flexion reflex pattern with a few exceptions which did neither fit a withdrawal nor a flexion reflex pattern. The partly observed excitatory feed back to foot extensors from nociceptive afferents of the foot sole is functionally discussed as a foot stabilizing mechanism under particular conditions.