Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Reflex Activity01:08

Reflex Activity

2.8K
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...
2.8K
Somatic Spinal Reflexes01:22

Somatic Spinal Reflexes

4.6K
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...
4.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Age-related differences in motor unit discharge rate modulation across contraction levels.

GeroScience·2026
Same author

Motoneuron excitability in Parkinson's disease: effects of dopaminergic medication.

Journal of neurophysiology·2026
Same author

Sex Over Cycle: Sex Differences Outweigh Menstrual Cycle Effects on Human Motor Output.

Exercise and sport sciences reviews·2026
Same author

Motor unit discharge properties are modestly influenced by menstrual cycle-related fluctuations in sex hormone concentrations.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

In situ muscle pre-activation shifts the lateral gastrocnemius muscle-tendon unit to rely on active fascicle lengthening to absorb peak power input.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026
Same author

Design and Validation of an Arduino-Based, Cost-Effective Heated Anesthesia Induction Chamber for Mice.

Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 6, 2026

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects
10:19

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects

Published on: April 13, 2011

13.2K

Evoking Cutaneous Reflexes During Human Walking I. A Step-by-Step Methodological Approach.

Francisco Espinoza1,2, Colin E Benites3, Gregory E P Pearcey4,5

  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

Current Protocols
|November 29, 2025
PubMed
Summary

This study details a reliable method for measuring cutaneous reflexes during human walking. The protocol ensures consistent and reproducible reflex measurements throughout the gait cycle for sensorimotor research.

Keywords:
cutaneous reflexeshuman walkingneural controlphase‐dependent modulationreflex amplitude

More Related Videos

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
08:12

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Published on: September 11, 2019

10.0K
Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion
08:19

Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion

Published on: January 15, 2016

9.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 6, 2026

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects
10:19

Studying the Neural Basis of Adaptive Locomotor Behavior in Insects

Published on: April 13, 2011

13.2K
Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control
08:12

Experimental Methods to Study Human Postural Control

Published on: September 11, 2019

10.0K
Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion
08:19

Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion

Published on: January 15, 2016

9.2K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biomechanics
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Cutaneous reflexes play a crucial role in modulating locomotion.
  • Previous methods for measuring these reflexes during walking faced challenges in consistency and reproducibility.
  • Standardized protocols are needed to advance human sensorimotor research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a detailed, step-by-step methodology for reliably eliciting cutaneous reflexes during human treadmill walking.
  • To address technical challenges in obtaining consistent reflex measurements throughout the gait cycle.
  • To establish a foundation for advanced stimulation paradigms in sensorimotor research.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed guidance on equipment setup and electrode placement.
  • Configuration of a foot-sensitive resistor for gait cycle parameter quantification.
  • Implementation of a pseudorandomized stimulation approach for reflex measurements.

Main Results:

  • The protocol enables high-quality cutaneous reflex measurements during walking.
  • Demonstrates a reproducible method for assessing reflex responses across the gait cycle.
  • Provides practical solutions for laboratories with varying expertise.

Conclusions:

  • This basic protocol offers a reliable framework for evoking cutaneous reflexes during human walking.
  • The methodology facilitates consistent and reproducible measurements essential for sensorimotor research.
  • It lays the groundwork for utilizing novel stimulation techniques in future studies.