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Related Concept Videos

Reflex Activity01:08

Reflex Activity

A reflex activity is an automatic, involuntary response to specific stimuli. It is a part of our survival mechanism, designed to protect us from potential harm. For example, when a bright light suddenly shines into our eyes, we instinctively close them or look away. This is a simple reflex activity orchestrated by the nervous system without conscious thought or effort.
A reflex exam is a diagnostic procedure performed by a healthcare professional to evaluate the functionality of a patient's...
Somatic Spinal Reflexes01:22

Somatic Spinal Reflexes

Somatic spinal reflexes are rapid, involuntary muscular responses to external stimuli that involve the somatic musculature and the spinal cord.
One of the most well-known somatic spinal reflexes is the stretch reflex, which is activated by the sudden stretching of a muscle. This reflex involves the activation of specialized sensory receptors called muscle spindles, which are located in the muscle tissue and detect changes in the length and speed of muscle contractions. When a muscle is suddenly...
Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

The indirect motor or extrapyramidal pathways originate in the brainstem, the lower portion of the brain that connects it to the spinal cord. They consist of several distinct tracts, each with specialized functions. The four main tracts of the indirect motor pathways are the vestibulospinal tract, the reticulospinal tract, the tectospinal tract, and the rubrospinal tract.
The vestibulospinal tract originates in the vestibular nuclei of the brainstem. The vestibular system detects changes in...
Major Somatic Sensory Pathways01:28

Major Somatic Sensory Pathways

Sensory impulses related to touch, pressure, vibration, and proprioception from various body parts, such as the limbs, trunk, neck, and posterior head, travel to the cerebral cortex through the posterior column-medial lemniscus pathway. The pathway’s name derives from the two white-matter tracts that convey the impulses: the spinal cord's posterior column and the brainstem's medial lemniscus. First-order sensory neurons extend their axons into the spinal cord, forming the posterior columns...

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Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
08:12

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Published on: September 11, 2019

Soleus H-reflex and its relation to static postural control.

Yung-Sheng Chen1, Shi Zhou

  • 1School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia.

Gait & Posture
|January 8, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) test reveals how the nervous system controls balance. H-reflex modulation is linked to postural stability, offering insights into movement control mechanisms.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • The Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) assesses Ia afferent spinal loop function.
  • H-reflex variations provide insights into neural mechanisms controlling movement.
  • Recent research links H-reflex modulation to postural stability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review literature on H-reflex modulation and postural control.
  • To enhance understanding of physiological mechanisms in human posture control.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies examining H-reflex modulation and postural stability.
  • Analysis of H-reflex amplitude changes in relation to body sway and balance training.

Main Results:

  • Soleus (SOL) H-reflex amplitude decreases with increased body sway on soft surfaces.
  • Presynaptic inhibition is suggested to modulate SOL H-reflex to prevent motoneuron oversaturation.
  • Balance training leads to SOL H-reflex down-modulation, correlating with improved balance control.

Conclusions:

  • H-reflex modulation is a key indicator of postural control.
  • Adaptations in supraspinal levels play a role in H-reflex modulation during balance.
  • Understanding H-reflex mechanisms is crucial for deciphering posture control.