Reciprocal inhibition upon initiation of voluntary movement

Phasic changes in reciprocal inhibition of the soleus motoneurons upon initiation of active ankle dorsiflexion was investigated in normal man. H-reflex and reaction time methods were combined. Two phases of reciprocal inhibition were observed. The first inhibition appeared almost simultaneously with the activity of agonist EMG but was so weak as to be cancelled with a strong test stimulus or a slight stretch of the test muscle. The second inhibition developed 100 ms after EMG onset, in the early stage of dynamic contraction, and was strong. These inhibitions increased as the voluntary effort was strengthened. The neural mechanism of these inhibitions is discussed.