Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1974 Sep;37(9):1012–1021.

Assessment of fusimotor contribution to reflex reinforcement in humans 1

Doris Burg 1,2, Alfred J Szumski 1,3, Albrecht Struppler 1, Francisco Velho 1
PMCID: PMC494832

Abstract

The contribution of the fusimotor system to reflex reinforcement such as the Jendrassik manoeuvre was investigated by recording single unit activity with tungsten electrodes from muscle spindle afferent nerves in unanaesthetized normal human subjects. Muscle spindle afferent activity was recorded before, during, and after the reinforcement test. When the leg muscles remained relaxed during the Jendrassik manoeuvre, spindle activity recorded in the tibial nerve was accelerated. Also in the median nerve, activity from muscle spindle afferent fibres was increased during a remote contraction of the ipsilateral quadriceps muscle. Comparing the time course of the phasic reflex reinforcement and the muscle spindle facilitation during the remote contraction, a marked after-effect was recorded in both responses. Present results show an increased spontaneous muscle spindle activity in relaxed muscles during a remote muscle contraction, and provide evidence for the contribution of the fusimotor system to the enhancement of phasic reflexes by reinforcement manoeuvres.

Full text

PDF
1012

Images in this article

1015Image
on p.1015

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Aranda C. L., Rocamora R. G., Asenjo G. A., Chiorino R. R., Donoso Y. P. Alpha and gamma motor systems in extrapyramidal diseases. Confin Neurol. 1966;27(1):230–233. doi: 10.1159/000103958. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BULLER A. J., DORNHORST A. C. The reinforcement of tendon-reflexes. Lancet. 1957 Dec 21;273(7008):1260–1262. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(57)91542-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. BULLER A. J. The ankle-jerk in early hemiplegia. Lancet. 1957 Dec 21;273(7008):1262–1263. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(57)91543-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Burg D., Szumski A. J., Struppler A., Velho F. Afferent and efferent activation of human muscle receptors involved in reflex and voluntary contraction. Exp Neurol. 1973 Dec;41(3):754–768. doi: 10.1016/0014-4886(73)90066-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Burke D., Andrews C. J., Lance J. W. Tonic vibration reflex in spasticity, Parkinson's disease, and normal subjects. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1972 Aug;35(4):477–486. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.35.4.477. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. CLARE M. H., LANDAU W. M. FUSIMOTOR FUNCTION. V. REFLEX REINFORCEMENT UNDER FUSIMOTOR BLOCK IN NORMAL SUBJECTS. Arch Neurol. 1964 Feb;10:123–127. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1964.00460140009002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. COOPER S. The responses of the primary and secondary endings of muscle spindles with intact motor innervation during applied stretch. Q J Exp Physiol Cogn Med Sci. 1961 Oct;46:389–398. doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.1961.sp001558. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. GASSEL M. M., DIAMANTOPOULOS E. THE JENDRASSIK MANEUVER. I. THE PATTERN OF REINFORCEMENT OF MONOSYNAPTIC REFLEXES IN NORMAL SUBJECTS AND PATIENTS WITH SPASTICITY OF RIGIDITY. Neurology. 1964 Jun;14:555–560. doi: 10.1212/wnl.14.6.555. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. GRANIT R. Reflex self-regulation of muscle contraction and autogenetic inhibition. J Neurophysiol. 1950 Sep;13(5):351–372. doi: 10.1152/jn.1950.13.5.351. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. HOFFMANN P. DER JENDRASSIKSCHE KUNSTGRIFF UND DIE AUFKLAERUNG SEINER PHYSIOLOGISCHEN BEDEUTUNG. SCHICKSAL EINER ENTDECKUNG. Munch Med Wochenschr. 1963 Aug 23;105:1629–1634. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. HOFMANN W. W., ANGEL R. W., SEIL F. J., SCHEAR H. E. Reflex re-enforcement in parkinsonism. Neurology. 1962 Jun;12:440–442. doi: 10.1212/wnl.12.6.440. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. HUNT C. C., KUFFLER S. W. Further study of efferent small-nerve fibers to mammalian muscle spindles; multiple spindle innervation and activity during contraction. J Physiol. 1951 Apr;113(2-3):283–297. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1951.sp004572. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. HUNT C. C., KUFFLER S. W. Stretch receptor discharges during muscle contraction. J Physiol. 1951 Apr;113(2-3):298–315. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1951.sp004573. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hagbarth K. E., Vallbo A. B. Discharge characteristics of human muscle afferents during muscle stretch and contraction. Exp Neurol. 1968 Dec;22(4):674–694. doi: 10.1016/0014-4886(68)90156-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hagbarth K. E., Vallbo A. B. Mechanoreceptor activity recorded percutaneously with semi-microelectrodes in human peripheral nerves. Acta Physiol Scand. 1967 Jan-Feb;69(1):121–122. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1967.tb03498.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. KUFFLER S. W., HUNT C. C., QUILLIAM J. P. Function of medullated small-nerve fibers in mammalian ventral roots; efferent muscle spindle innervation. J Neurophysiol. 1951 Jan;14(1):29–54. doi: 10.1152/jn.1951.14.1.29. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. LANDAU W. M., CLARE M. H. FUSIMOTOR FUNCTION. IV. REINFORCEMENT OF THE H REFLEX IN NORMAL SUBJECTS. Arch Neurol. 1964 Feb;10:117–122. doi: 10.1001/archneur.1964.00460140003001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Lewis D. M., Proske U. The effect of muscle length and rate of fusimotor stimulation on the frequency of discharge in primary endings from muscle spindles in the cat. J Physiol. 1972 May;222(3):511–535. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1972.sp009812. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. MATTHEWS P. B., RUSHWORTH G. The selective effect of proCaine on the stretch reflex and tendon jerk of soleus muscle when applied to its nerve. J Physiol. 1957 Feb 15;135(2):245–262. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1957.sp005707. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. MATTHEWS P. B. THE RESPONSE OF DE-EFFERENTED MUSCLE SPINDLE RECEPTORS TO STRETCHING AT DIFFERENT VELOCITIES. J Physiol. 1963 Oct;168:660–678. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1963.sp007214. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Matthews P. B., Stein R. B. The regularity of primary and secondary muscle spindle afferent discharges. J Physiol. 1969 May;202(1):59–82. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1969.sp008795. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. PAILLARD J. Analyse électrophysiologique et comparaison, chez l'homme, du réflexe de Hoffmann et du réflexe myotatique. Pflugers Arch. 1955;260(6):448–479. doi: 10.1007/BF00363666. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. STRUPPLER A., PREUSS R. Untersuchungen über periphere und zentrale Faktoren der Eigenreflexerregbarkeit am Menschen mit Hilfe des Jendrassikschen Handgriffes. Pflugers Arch. 1959;268(5):425–434. doi: 10.1007/BF00362945. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Vallbo A. B. Discharge patterns in human muscle spindle afferents during isometric voluntary contractions. Acta Physiol Scand. 1970 Dec;80(4):552–566. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1970.tb04823.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Vallbo A. B., Hagbarth K. E. Activity from skin mechanoreceptors recorded percutaneously in awake human subjects. Exp Neurol. 1968 Jul;21(3):270–289. doi: 10.1016/0014-4886(68)90041-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Vallbo A. B. Muscle spindle response at the onset of isometric voluntary contractions in man. Time difference between fusimotor and skeletomotor effects. J Physiol. 1971 Oct;218(2):405–431. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1971.sp009625. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Vallbo A. B. Slowly adapting muscle receptors in man. Acta Physiol Scand. 1970 Mar;78(3):315–333. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1970.tb04667.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. WARD A. A., Jr Physiological mechanisms in parkinsonism. Rev Can Biol. 1961 Jun;20:345–350. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES