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Physiologic and anatomic basis for contralateral R1 in blink reflex.
1Department of Neurology, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY.
Muscle & Nerve
|August 1, 1988
Summary
Researchers investigated contralateral R1 responses in healthy individuals. Findings suggest crossed trigeminofacial pathways may exist, with peripheral trigeminal nerve stimulation also potentially causing these responses.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Contralateral R1 responses are observed in certain neurological conditions.
- The exact mechanism and origin of these responses in healthy subjects are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the appearance rate and mechanism of contralateral R1 responses in normal subjects.
- To determine the pathways involved in generating these responses.
Main Methods:
- Facilitating maneuvers including orbicularis oculi contraction and median nerve conditioning stimulus were employed.
- Stimulating anode position was altered, and contralateral supraorbital nerve was blocked to assess response origin.
Main Results:
- Contralateral R1 responses were elicited using specific facilitating maneuvers.
- Responses were confirmed to be of peripheral origin through nerve blockade, indicating stimulation of peripheral trigeminal ophthalmic sensory fibers.
Conclusions:
- Crossed trigeminofacial pathways likely exist in normal subjects.
- Contralateral R1 responses can arise from peripheral trigeminal nerve stimulation in some cases.