Spinal excitation and inhibition decrease as humans age

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 238-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aiko Kido ◽  
Naofumi Tanaka ◽  
Richard B Stein
Keyword(s):  
Human Subjects ◽  
Tibialis Anterior Muscle ◽  
Common Peroneal Nerve ◽  
Reciprocal Inhibition ◽  
H Reflex ◽  
Direct Stimulation ◽  
Voluntary Activity ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
First Time

Although changes in the soleus H-reflex (an electrical analog of the tendon jerk) with age have been examined in a number of studies, some controversy remains. Also, the effect of age on inhibitory reflexes has received little attention. The purpose of this paper was to examine some excitatory and inhibitory reflexes systematically in healthy human subjects having a wide range of ages. We confirmed that both the maximum H-reflex (Hmax) and the maximum M-wave (Mmax) (from direct stimulation of motor axons) decrease gradually with age. The decrease in Hmax was larger so the Hmax/Mmax ratio decreased dramatically with age. Interestingly, the modulation of the H-reflex during walking was essentially the same at all ages, suggesting that the pathways that modulate the H-reflex amplitude during walking are relatively well preserved during the aging process. We showed for the first time that the short-latency, reciprocal inhibitory pathways from the common peroneal nerve to soleus muscle and from the tibial nerve to the tibialis anterior muscle also decreased with age, when measured as a depression of ongoing voluntary activity. These results suggest that there may be a general decrease in excitability of spinal pathways with age. Thus, the use of age-matched controls is particularly important in assessing abnormalities resulting from disorders that occur primarily in the elderly.Key words: H-reflex, reciprocal inhibition, age.

Spinal reciprocal inhibition in human locomotion

2004 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 1969-1977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aiko Kido ◽  
Naofumi Tanaka ◽  
Richard B. Stein
Keyword(s):  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Tibial Nerve ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Tibialis Anterior Muscle ◽  
Reciprocal Inhibition ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Fast Walking ◽  
Tibial Nerve Stimulation ◽  
The Difference

The purpose of this paper was to study spinal inhibition during several different motor tasks in healthy human subjects. The short-latency, reciprocal inhibitory pathways from the common peroneal (CP) nerve to the soleus muscle and from the tibial nerve to the tibialis anterior muscle were studied as a depression of ongoing voluntary electromyograph (EMG) activity. First, the effect of stimulus intensity on the amount of inhibition was examined to decide an appropriate stimulation to study the task-dependent modulation of inhibition. Then, the inhibition at one level of stimulation (1.5 × motor threshold) was investigated during standing, walking, and running. The change in slope of inhibition vs. EMG level, which approximates the fraction of ongoing activity that is inhibited, decreased with CP stimulation from 0.52 during standing to 0.30 during fast walking (6 km/h) to 0.17 during running at 9 km/h. Similarly, the slope decreased with tibial nerve stimulation from 0.68 (standing) to 0.42 (fast walking) to 0.35 (running at 9 km/h). All differences, except the last one, were highly significant ( P < 0.01, Student's t-test). However, the difference between walking (0.42) and running (0.36) at the same speed (6 km/h) was not significant with tibial nerve stimulation and only significant at P < 0.05 with CP nerve stimulation (0.30, 0.20). Also, the difference between standing (0.52) and slow walking (3 km/h; 0.41) with CP stimulation was not significant, but it was significant ( P < 0.01) with tibial nerve stimulation (0.68, 0.49). In conclusion, our findings indicate that spinal reciprocal inhibition decreases substantially with increasing speed and only changes to a lesser extent with task.

scholarly journals Inter-individual differences in human brain structure and morphology link to variation in demographics and behavior

eLife ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Llera ◽  
Thomas Wolfers ◽  
Peter Mulders ◽  
Christian F Beckmann
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Structural Variations ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Negative Spectrum ◽  
Human Volunteers ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
First Time

We perform a comprehensive integrative analysis of multiple structural MR-based brain features and find for the first-time strong evidence relating inter-individual brain structural variations to a wide range of demographic and behavioral variates across a large cohort of young healthy human volunteers. Our analyses reveal that a robust ‘positive-negative’ spectrum of behavioral and demographic variates, recently associated to covariation in brain function, can already be identified using only structural features, highlighting the importance of careful integration of structural features in any analysis of inter-individual differences in functional connectivity and downstream associations with behavioral/demographic variates.

scholarly journals Fractionation of muscle activity in rapid responses to startling cues

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 1713-1719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren R. Dean ◽  
Stuart N. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Similar Proportion ◽  
Descending Pathways ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Right

Movements in response to acoustically startling cues have shorter reaction times than those following less intense sounds; this is known as the StartReact effect. The neural underpinnings for StartReact are unclear. One possibility is that startling cues preferentially invoke the reticulospinal tract to convey motor commands to spinal motoneurons. Reticulospinal outputs are highly divergent, controlling large groups of muscles in synergistic patterns. By contrast the dominant pathway in primate voluntary movement is the corticospinal tract, which can access small groups of muscles selectively. We therefore hypothesized that StartReact responses would be less fractionated than standard voluntary reactions. Electromyogram recordings were made from 15 muscles in 10 healthy human subjects as they carried out 32 varied movements with the right forelimb in response to startling and nonstartling auditory cues. Movements were chosen to elicit a wide range of muscle activations. Multidimensional muscle activity patterns were calculated at delays from 0 to 100 ms after the onset of muscle activity and subjected to principal component analysis to assess fractionation. In all cases, a similar proportion of the total variance could be explained by a reduced number of principal components for the startling and the nonstartling cue. Muscle activity patterns for a given task were very similar in response to startling and nonstartling cues. This suggests that movements produced in the StartReact paradigm rely on similar contributions from different descending pathways as those following voluntary responses to nonstartling cues. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrate that the ability to activate muscles selectively is preserved during the very rapid reactions produced following a startling cue. This suggests that the contributions from different descending pathways are comparable between these rapid reactions and more typical voluntary movements.

Increased central facilitation of antagonist reciprocal inhibition at the onset of dorsiflexion following explosive strength training

2008 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 915-922 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svend S. Geertsen ◽  
Jesper Lundbye-Jensen ◽  
Jens B. Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Strength Training ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Reciprocal Inhibition ◽  
Plantar Flexors ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Explosive Strength ◽  
Descending Facilitation ◽  
Antagonist Muscles ◽  
Efficient Suppression ◽  
Ankle Dorsiflexor

At the onset of dorsiflexion disynaptic reciprocal inhibition (DRI) of soleus motoneurons is increased to prevent activation of the antagonistic plantar flexors. This is caused by descending facilitation of transmission in the DRI pathway. Because the risk of eliciting stretch reflexes in the ankle plantar flexors at the onset of dorsiflexion is larger the quicker the movement, it was hypothesized that DRI may be increased when subjects are trained to perform dorsiflexion movements as quickly as possible For this purpose, 14 healthy human subjects participated in explosive strength training of the ankle dorsiflexor muscles 3 times a week for 4 wk. Test sessions were conducted before, shortly after, and 2 wk after the training period. The rate of torque development measured at 30, 50, 100, and 200 ms after onset of voluntary explosive isometric dorsiflexion increased by 24–33% ( P < 0.05). DRI was measured as the depression of the soleus H reflex following conditioning stimulation of the peroneal nerve (1.1 × motor threshold) at an interval of 2–3 ms. At the onset of dorsiflexion the amount of DRI measured relative to DRI at rest increased significantly from 6% before the training to 22% after the training ( P < 0.05). We speculate that DRI at the onset of movement may be increased in healthy subjects following explosive strength training to ensure efficient suppression of the antagonist muscles as the dorsiflexion movement becomes faster.

scholarly journals A Re-evaluation of Whether Non-monosynaptic Homonymous H Reflex Facilitation Tests Propriospinal Circuits

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen M. Fisher ◽  
Stuart N. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Median Nerve ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Conditioning Stimulus ◽  
Macaque Monkey ◽  
H Reflex ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Median Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Important Pathway ◽  
Peripheral Axon ◽  
Forearm Flexor

The C3–C4 propriospinal system is an important pathway mediating movement in cats; it contributes to movements in primates (including humans), and may have a role in recovery after lesion. Validated clinical tests of this system would find many applications, therefore we sought to test whether non-monosynaptic homonymous facilitation of the forearm flexor H reflex is mediated solely via a C3–C4 propriospinal pathway. In one anesthetized macaque monkey, median nerve stimulation elicited an H reflex in the flexor carpi radialis (FCR). Median nerve conditioning stimuli at sub-threshold intensities facilitated the H reflex, for inter-stimulus intervals up to 30 ms. Successive spinal surgical hemisections were then made. C2 lesion left the homonymous facilitation intact, suggesting mediation by spinal, not supraspinal pathways. Facilitation also remained after a second lesion at C5, indicating a major role for segmental (C7–C8) rather than propriospinal (C3–C4) interneurons. In separate experiments in five healthy human subjects, a threshold tracking approach assessed changes in peripheral axon excitability after conditioning stimulation. This was found to be enhanced up to 20 ms after the conditioning stimulus, and could partly, although not completely, underlie the H reflex facilitation seen. We conclude that homonymous facilitation of the H reflex in FCR can be produced by segmental spinal mechanisms, as well as by a supranormal period of nerve excitability. Unfortunately, this straightforward test cannot therefore be used for selective assessment of propriospinal circuits.

Reciprocal inhibition of soleus motor output in humans during walking and voluntary tonic activity

1990 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 607-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Capaday ◽  
F. W. Cody ◽  
R. B. Stein
Keyword(s):  
Motor Activity ◽  
Motor Units ◽  
Common Peroneal Nerve ◽  
Reciprocal Inhibition ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
General Interest ◽  
Voluntary Activity ◽  
Rapid Reduction ◽  
Active Motor ◽  
The Common

1. The extent to which an active, human motoneuron pool can be inhibited via short-latency inhibitory pathways was studied by stimulating the common peroneal nerve and recording the inhibition of on-going soleus electromyographic (EMG) activity. The responses were compared at the same EMG level during walking and tonic voluntary activity to determine whether the inhibition was task dependent. 2. In both tasks the amount of inhibition (measured as the depression in rectified, filtered, and averaged EMG activity) increased approximately linearly with the amount of motor activity, as determined from the mean EMG level before stimulation (correlation coefficient greater than or equal to 0.9). No difference in the amount of inhibition was found between the two tasks at the same stimulus and EMG levels. 3. Previously published studies based on the H-reflex method have reported that the amount of inhibition decreases with the amount of motor activity. On the contrary, single-unit studies and the present results suggest that segmental inhibitory reflexes retain their capacity to mediate a rapid reduction of motoneuronal discharge during voluntary activity. This inhibition may be important in regulating the amount of activity early in the stance phase of walking and during the transition from stance to the swing phase. 4. Analytic results are derived in an APPENDIX that should be of general interest in interpreting the inhibition of motor units from a peristimulus time histogram (PSTH). The linear correlation between inhibition and level of voluntary activity can be explained if newly recruited units are strongly inhibited by the stimulus, whereas previously active motor units are inhibited relatively less, as their firing rate increases with increasing background activity.

Changes in Reciprocal Inhibition Across the Ankle Joint With Changes in External Load and Pedaling Rate During Bicycling

2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 3168-3177 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. S. Pyndt ◽  
M. Laursen ◽  
J. B. Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Linear Relation ◽  
External Load ◽  
Plantar Flexion ◽  
Tibialis Anterior Muscle ◽  
Reciprocal Inhibition ◽  
Tonic Contraction ◽  
H Reflex ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Ankle Muscles ◽  
Pedaling Rate

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of reciprocal inhibition in the regulation of antagonistic ankle muscles during bicycling. A total of 20 subjects participated in the study. Reciprocal inhibition was induced by stimulation of the peroneal nerve (PN) at 1.2 times threshold for the M-response in the tibialis anterior muscle (TA) and recorded as a depression of the rectified soleus (SOL) EMG. Recordings were made during tonic plantar flexion and during bicycling on an ergometer bicycle. During tonic contraction, the amount of inhibition in the SOL EMG was linearly correlated to the amount of background EMG. This linear relation was used to calculate the expected amount of reciprocal inhibition at corresponding EMG levels during bicycling. During the early phase of down-stroke of bicycling at 60 revolutions per minute (RPM) and an external load of 1.0 kg, the amount of recorded reciprocal inhibition was significantly smaller than that calculated from the linear relation during tonic contraction. In nine subjects, the SOL H-reflex was used to evaluate the amount of inhibition. At a short conditioning test interval (2–3 ms), the PN stimulation depressed the SOL H-reflex when the subjects were at rest. This short latency inhibition was absent during downstroke, but appeared during upstroke just prior to and during TA activation. A positive linear relation was found between the level of SOL background EMG in early downstroke and the external load (0.5–2.5 kg) as well as the rate of pedaling (30–90 RPM at 1.0 kg external load). The amount of inhibition in the SOL EMG when expressed as a percentage of the background EMG activity decreased significantly with increasing load. During increased pedaling rate, a similar decrease was seen, but it did not reach a statistically significant level. The data illustrate that reciprocal inhibition of the soleus muscle is modulated during bicycling being small in downstroke when the SOL muscle is active and large in upstroke where the muscle is inactive and its antagonist becomes active. The depression of the inhibition in relation to increased load and pedaling rate likely reflects the need of reducing inhibition of the SOL motoneurons to ensure a sufficient activation of the muscle.

Minimizing Carry-Over Effects After Treatment Failure and Maximizing Therapeutic Outcome

2014 ◽  
Vol 222 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mareile Hofmann ◽  
Nathalie Wrobel ◽  
Simon Kessner ◽  
Ulrike Bingel
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Failure ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Subsequent Treatment ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Administration Route ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Negative Experiences ◽  
Analgesic Treatment ◽  
Balanced Design ◽  
Carry Over

According to experimental and clinical evidence, the experiences of previous treatments are carried over to different therapeutic approaches and impair the outcome of subsequent treatments. In this behavioral pilot study we used a change in administration route to investigate whether the effect of prior treatment experience on a subsequent treatment depends on the similarity of both treatments. We experimentally induced positive or negative experiences with a topical analgesic treatment in two groups of healthy human subjects. Subsequently, we compared responses to a second, unrelated and systemic analgesic treatment between both the positive and negative group. We found that there was no difference in the analgesic response to the second treatment between the two groups. Our data indicate that a change in administration route might reduce the influence of treatment history and therefore be a way to reduce negative carry-over effects after treatment failure. Future studies will have to validate these findings in a fully balanced design including larger, clinical samples.

Detection of Soluble Fibrin Monomer Complexes in Blood by Means of Protamine Sulphate Test

1968 ◽  
Vol 20 (01/02) ◽  
pp. 044-049 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Lipiński ◽  
K Worowski
Keyword(s):  
Human Subjects ◽  
Coronary Thrombosis ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Protamine Sulphate ◽  
Soluble Fibrin ◽  
Fibrin Monomer ◽  
Dog Plasma ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Precipitable Protein

SummaryIn the present paper described is a simple test for detecting soluble fibrin monomer complexes (SFMC) in blood. The test consists in mixing 1% protamine sulphate with diluted oxalated plasma or serum and reading the optical density at 6190 Å. In experiments with dog plasma, enriched with soluble fibrin complexes, it was shown that OD read in PS test is proportional to the amount of fibrin recovered from the precipitate. It was found that SFMC level in plasma increases in rabbits infused intravenously with thrombin and decreases after injection of plasmin with streptokinase. In both cases PS precipitable protein in serum is elevated indicating enhanced fibrinolysis. In healthy human subjects the mean value of OD readings in plasma and sera were found to be 0.30 and 0.11, while in patients with coronary thrombosis they are 0.64 and 0.05 respectively. The origin of SFMC in circulation under physiological and pathological conditions is discussed.

Chronic stress decreases circulating endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol in healthy human subjects

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Buqing Yi ◽  
Igor Nichiporuk ◽  
Matthias Feuerecker ◽  
Gustav Schelling ◽  
Alexander Chouker
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Healthy Human Subjects
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