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Tremor and skeletal muscle tone
1Klinikum rechts der Isar der TU München, BRD.
Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Stereotactic surgery for Parkinsonian tremor alters motor control by reducing muscle stiffness and shifting nerve signaling from tonic to phasic. This suggests a new understanding of hypotonia in neurological movement disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Stereotactic surgery targets thalamic/subthalamic regions for Parkinsonian tremor.
- This offers an opportunity to study supraspinal proprioceptive loop influence on motor tasks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of stereotactic interventions on supraspinal proprioceptive loops.
- To analyze changes in motor unit firing and muscle stiffness in Parkinsonian tremor patients.
Main Methods:
- Stereotactic interventions at thalamic/subthalamic levels.
- Electromyography to assess stretch reflex components and motor unit firing frequency.
- Measurement of muscle pre-reflex stiffness during isometric contractions.
Main Results:
- Normalization of the late stretch reflex component observed.
- Decreased pre-reflex stiffness in contralateral muscles reported.
- Reduced low-threshold motor unit firing frequency in elbow flexors during isometric contractions.
Conclusions:
- Stereotactic interventions induce a shift from tonic to phasic innervation modes.
- This shift is interpreted as the underlying cause of hypotonia in treated patients.
- Findings provide insights into the supraspinal control of muscle tone and movement.