Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026
05:38
Terminal H-reflex Measurements in Mice
Published on: June 16, 2022
The Hoffmann Reflex
Oscar Arias-Carrión1,2, Emmanuel Ortega-Robles1
1División de Neurociencias, Clínica, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra, Mexico City 14389, Mexico.
Neurosci
|June 25, 2026
Summary
The Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) measures spinal inhibitory function, offering insights into sensorimotor control and neurological injury recovery. Careful application is key for its clinical translation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Physiology
- Motor Control
Background:
- The human spinal cord is crucial for sensorimotor function, pain, and neurological recovery.
- The Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) is a key electrophysiological tool for assessing spinal cord activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the H-reflex as an indirect measure of human spinal inhibitory function.
- To integrate physiological mechanisms with clinical findings in various neurological conditions.
Main Methods:
- Synthesizing classical and contemporary evidence on H-reflex mechanisms.
- Analyzing H-reflex alterations in chronic pain, spasticity, Parkinson's disease, and CNS injury recovery.
Main Results:
- H-reflex modulation reflects complex spinal circuit interactions, not just motoneuron excitability.
- Altered spinal inhibitory processes are evident in various neurological disorders.
Conclusions:
- The H-reflex is a valuable tool for assessing spinal inhibitory function.
- Methodological standardization and physiologically informed interpretation are crucial for clinical translation.
Keywords:
Hoffmann reflexprecision neurologyrate-dependent depressionsensorimotor integrationspinal inhibitiontranslational neurophysiologyMore Related Videos
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