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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...
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
07:53

Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Published on: September 13, 2015

H reflex and spinal excitability: methodological considerations.

Sidney Grosprêtre1, Alain Martin

  • 1INSERM U887, BP 27 877, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France. sidney.grospretre-gauvin@u-bourgogne.fr

Journal of Neurophysiology
|December 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Investigating spinal excitability during muscle contraction requires careful consideration of the Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) recruitment curve. Optimal assessment occurs on the ascending portion, unaffected by muscle activity.

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Last Updated: May 26, 2026

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Motor Control

Background:

  • The Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) is a key tool for studying spinal excitability in exercise research.
  • Limited understanding exists on how H-reflex electromyographic responses change with stimulation intensity during active muscle contractions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the most reliable segment of the H-reflex recruitment curve for assessing spinal excitability during muscle contraction.

Main Methods:

  • Determined H-reflex recruitment curves for soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscles.
  • Compared curves under passive and active (50% maximal isometric voluntary contraction) conditions.
  • Analyzed H-reflex responses relative to stimulation intensity and maximal M-wave.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in H-reflexes were observed between passive and active conditions on the ascending part of the recruitment curve.
  • Differences emerged in the descending part of the curve, with varying intensities needed to elicit the same H-reflex percentage during active contraction.
  • These differences persisted up to the maximal M-wave.

Conclusions:

  • For motor tasks, spinal excitability should be assessed using H-reflexes recorded from the ascending portion of the recruitment curve.
  • This approach minimizes confounding effects from background muscle electrical activity and methodological variations during muscle contraction.