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Related Experiment Videos

Interactions in human quadriceps-triceps surae motoneuron pathways.

D M Koceja1, G Kamen

  • 1Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405.

Experimental Brain Research
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Investigating human spinal reflex pathways, this study found that tendon taps can cause long-lasting changes in motoneuron excitability. These effects, influenced by contralateral and ipsilateral stimuli, appear with a significant delay.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Human Physiology
  • Motor Control

Background:

  • Spinal reflex pathways are crucial for motor control and posture.
  • Understanding how segmental inputs modulate reflex activity is essential.
  • Previous research has not fully elucidated the long-latency effects of contralateral and ipsilateral stimuli on human reflexes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of contralateral and ipsilateral tendon-tap stimuli on spinal reflex pathways in humans.
  • To measure the isometric force-time characteristics of patellar (PTR) and Achilles (ATR) tendon reflexes.
  • To determine the temporal dynamics of reflex modulation by conditioning stimuli.

Main Methods:

  • Isometric force-time curves of PTR and ATR were measured in 12 college-age subjects.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Tendon reflexes were conditioned using contralateral or ipsilateral tendon-tap stimuli.
  • Conditioning stimuli preceded test reflexes at various intervals (25-145 ms).

    • Main Results:

    • Contralateral patellar tendon tap induced long-latency excitation of quadriceps motoneurons.
    • Contralateral Achilles tendon tap resulted in short-latency facilitation and long-latency inhibition of triceps surae motoneurons.
    • Conditioning patellar tendon taps (contra- or ipsilateral) produced short-latency facilitation followed by long-latency inhibition of triceps surae motoneurons.

    Conclusions:

    • Motoneuron excitability can be altered by both ipsilateral and contralateral segmental inputs.
    • These excitability changes can be long-lasting and manifest with a significant delay (long-latency).
    • Proposed neurophysiological mechanisms may underlie these observed long-latency reflex modulations.