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Long lasting excitability changes in human peripheral nerve

F Potts1, R R Young, J M Shefner

  • 1Neurophysiology Service, West Roxbury VA Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.

Muscle & Nerve
|January 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary
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Electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves reveals cycles of excitability lasting over 200 ms. These changes significantly impact motor nerve responses, potentially influencing firing rates during physiological activity.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Electrophysiology

Background:

  • Peripheral nerve excitability fluctuates after stimulation.
  • Refractory periods are followed by hyper- and hypoexcitability cycles.
  • These cycles influence nerve fiber response to subsequent stimuli.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate human peripheral nerve excitability cycles.
  • Quantify excitability changes in motor versus mixed nerves.
  • Determine the effect of stimulus strength on excitability fluctuations.

Main Methods:

  • Delivered pairs of equal, submaximal electrical stimuli to peripheral nerves.
  • Varied the interstimulus interval.
  • Measured responses in 12 healthy subjects.

Main Results:

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  • Excitability cycles lasted at least 200 ms.
  • Motor fibers showed greater excitability changes than mixed nerves (motor response reduced >80% vs. <20%).
  • Midrange stimulus strengths produced larger excitability changes than near-threshold or maximal stimuli.

Conclusions:

  • Significant excitability fluctuations occur in human peripheral nerves.
  • These cycles, particularly in motor fibers, can substantially modulate nerve responses.
  • The findings suggest these excitability changes may be physiologically relevant for modulating firing rates.