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Somatic Spinal Reflexes

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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2025

A Neuronal Apoptosis Model induced by Spinal Cord Compression in Rat

A Neuronal Apoptosis Model induced by Spinal Cord Compression in Rat

Published on: June 29, 2021

Virtual reality does not fool the brain only: spinal excitability changes during virtually simulated falling.

Sidney Grosprêtre¹, Pauline Eon¹, Philémon Marcel-Millet¹

¹Laboratory Culture Sport Health and Society (C3S-UR 4660), Sport and Performance Department, University of Franche-Comté, Besançon, France.

Journal of Neurophysiology

|December 14, 2022

Summary

Virtual reality (VR) can alter spinal cord activity during simulated falls. This study found a significant decrease in H-reflex, indicating VR effectively modulates the sensorimotor system during virtual postural threats.

Keywords:

H-reflex Richie’s plank drop jump soleus virtual reality

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Motor Control
Human Physiology

Background:

Virtual reality (VR) activates motor regions, but its effect on the sensorimotor system, particularly at spinal levels, is not fully understood.
Investigating VR's impact on lower nervous system levels is crucial for understanding its potential in rehabilitation and training.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess if VR simulation of challenging postural situations affects spinal excitability in postural muscles.
To determine if VR can trigger sensorimotor responses at lower nervous system levels.

Main Methods:

15 healthy participants stood in VR, experiencing conditions from still standing to simulated falling.
The H-reflex of triceps surae muscles was measured using electrical stimulation.
Myoelectrical activity and body movements were recorded to control for oscillations.

Main Results:

No significant differences in muscle activity or head movements were observed between VR conditions.
Triceps H-reflex remained unaffected when standing still or on a virtual ledge.
A significant 47% decrease in H-reflex was observed during the simulated falling condition (P = 0.015).

Conclusions:

Experiencing a simulated postural threat in VR can effectively modulate spinal excitability.
Simulated falling in VR mimics neural adjustments seen in real postural challenges.
VR visual cues are potent enough to induce neuromuscular system adaptations similar to actual events.