[Physiological parameters of masseter and temporal reflexes in man]

This study is carried out in global electromyography, on man. The reflex activity of masseter and anterior temporal muscles is induced by a mechanical shock on the chin. The measures of the latency time duration and the silent period duration, are read in milliseconds on an oscilloscope screen. The average values of the latency time are/7.8 ms on the masseter muscle and 10 ms on the temporal muscle. The variability on this parameter, essentially neurological, according to the examined muscle, can be attributed to the diversity of the reflex passages. The average values of the duration of the silent period are of 36 ms on the masseter muscle and of 44 ms on the temporal muscle. This discrepancy is significant, and can be explained only by the specific functions of each of these two examined muscles. On the other hand, the high variability of the silent period duration, the same muscle, and in the same experiment, can be related to the strength of contraction exerted by the subject.