scholarly journals Stimulus predictability moderates the withdrawal strategy in response to repetitive noxious stimulation in humans

2020 ◽  
Vol 123 (6) ◽  
pp. 2201-2208
Author(s):  
Fabricio A. Jure ◽  
Federico G. Arguissain ◽  
José A. Biurrun Manresa ◽  
Thomas Graven-Nielsen ◽  
Ole Kæseler Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Noxious Stimulation ◽  
Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
External Threats ◽  
Defensive Behaviors ◽  
Withdrawal Response ◽  
Descending Control

Innate defensive behaviors such as reflexes are found across all species, constituting preprogrammed responses to external threats that are not anticipated. Previous studies indicated that the excitability of the reflex arcs like spinal nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) pathways in humans are modulated by several cognitive factors. This study assesses how the predictability of a threat affects the biomechanical pattern of the withdrawal response, showing that distal and proximal muscles are differentially modulated by descending control.

scholarly journals The nociceptive withdrawal reflex does not adapt to joint position change and short-term motor practice

F1000Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Eckert ◽  
Zachary A Riley
Keyword(s):  
Upper Limb ◽  
Reflex Response ◽  
Short Term ◽  
General Direction ◽  
Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Motor Practice ◽  
Withdrawal Reflexes ◽  
Sensory Encoding ◽  
Withdrawal Response

The nociceptive withdrawal reflex is a protective mechanism to mediate interactions within a potentially dangerous environment. The reflex is formed by action-based sensory encoding during the early post-natal developmental period, and it is unknown if the protective motor function of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex in the human upper-limb is adaptable based on the configuration of the arm or if it can be modified by short-term practice of a similar or opposing motor action. In the present study, nociceptive withdrawal reflexes were evoked by a brief train of electrical stimuli applied to digit II, 1) in five different static arm positions and, 2) before and after motor practice that was opposite (EXT) or similar (FLEX) to the stereotyped withdrawal response, in 10 individuals. Withdrawal responses were quantified by the electromyography (EMG) reflex response in several upper limb muscles, and by the forces and moments recorded at the wrist. EMG onset latencies and response amplitudes were not significantly different across the arm positions or between the EXT and FLEX practice conditions, and the general direction of the withdrawal response was similar across arm positions. In addition, the force vectors were not different after practice in either the practice condition or between EXT and FLEX conditions. We conclude the withdrawal response is insensitive to changes in elbow or shoulder joint angles as well as remaining resistant to short-term adaptations from the practice of motor actions, resulting in a generalized limb withdrawal in each case. It is further hypothesized that the multisensory feedback is weighted differently in each arm position, but integrated to achieve a similar withdrawal response to safeguard against erroneous motor responses that could cause further harm. The results remain consistent with the concept that nociceptive withdrawal reflexes are shaped through long-term and not short-term action based sensory encoding.

scholarly journals Adaptability of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex

F1000Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 158
Author(s):  
Nathan Eckert ◽  
Zachary A Riley
Keyword(s):  
Upper Limb ◽  
Reflex Response ◽  
Protective Mechanism ◽  
Short Term ◽  
General Direction ◽  
Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Withdrawal Reflexes ◽  
Sensory Encoding ◽  
Withdrawal Response

The nociceptive withdrawal reflex is a protective mechanism to mediate interactions within a potentially dangerous environment. The reflex is formed by action-based sensory encoding during the early post-natal developmental period, and it is unknown if the protective motor function of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex in the human upper-limb is adaptable based on the configuration of the arm or if it can be modified by short-term practice of a similar or opposing motor action. In the present study, nociceptive withdrawal reflexes were evoked by a brief train of electrical stimuli applied to digit II, 1) in five different static arm positions and, 2) before and after motor practice that was opposite (EXT) or similar (FLEX) to the stereotyped withdrawal response, in 10 individuals. Withdrawal responses were quantified by the electromyography (EMG) reflex response in several upper limb muscles, and by the forces and moments recorded at the wrist. EMG onset latencies and response amplitudes were not significantly different across the arm positions or between the EXT and FLEX practice conditions, and the general direction of the withdrawal response was similar across arm positions. In addition, the force vectors were not different after practice in either the practice condition or between EXT and FLEX conditions. We conclude the withdrawal response is insensitive to changes in elbow or shoulder joint angles as well as remaining resistant to short-term adaptations from the practice of motor actions, resulting in a generalized limb withdrawal in each case. It is further hypothesized that the multisensory feedback is weighted differently in each arm position, but integrated to achieve a similar withdrawal response to safeguard against erroneous motor responses that could cause further harm. The results remain consistent with the concept that nociceptive withdrawal reflexes are shaped through long-term and not short-term action based sensory encoding.

Tempo-spatial integration of nociceptive stimuli assessed via the nociceptive withdrawal reflex in healthy humans.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio Carlos Henrich ◽  
Ken Steffen Frahm ◽  
Ole K. Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Reflex Response ◽  
Spatial Integration ◽  
Opposite Pattern ◽  
Simultaneous Stimulation ◽  
Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Healthy Humans

Spatial information of nociceptive stimuli applied in the skin of healthy humans is integrated in the spinal cord to determine the appropriate withdrawal reflex response. Double-simultaneous stimulus applied in different skin sites are integrated, eliciting a larger reflex response. The temporal characteristics of the stimuli also modulate the reflex e.g. by temporal summation. The primary aim of this study was to investigate how the combined tempo-spatial aspects of two stimuli are integrated in the nociceptive system. This was investigated by delivering single and double simultaneous stimulation, and sequential stimulation with different inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs ranging 30-500 ms.) to the sole of the foot of fifteen healthy subjects. The primary outcome measure was the size of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) recorded from the Tibialis Anterior (TA) and Biceps Femoris (BF) muscles. Pain intensity was measured using an NRS scale. Results showed spatial summation in both TA and BF when delivering simultaneous stimulation. Simultaneous stimulation provoked larger reflexes than sequential stimulation in TA, but not in BF. Larger ISIs elicited significantly larger reflexes in TA, while the opposite pattern occurred in BF. This differential modulation between proximal and distal muscles suggests the presence of spinal circuits eliciting a functional reflex response based on the specific tempo-spatial characteristics of a noxious stimulus. No modulation was observed in pain intensity ratings across ISIs. Absence of modulation in the pain intensity ratings argues for an integrative mechanism located within the spinal cord governed by a need for efficient withdrawal from a potentially harmful stimulus.

Attention and distraction have no modulatory effect on the nociceptive withdrawal reflex

2007 ◽  
Vol 118 (4) ◽  
pp. e45
Author(s):  
E. Hennighasuen ◽  
V. Mylius ◽  
M. Kunz ◽  
K. Schepelmann
Keyword(s):  
Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Withdrawal Reflex

Quantitative assessment of nociceptive processes in conscious dogs by use of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex

2006 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 882-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra Bergadano ◽  
Ole K. Andersen ◽  
Lars Arendt-Nielsen ◽  
Urs Schatzmann ◽  
Claudia Spadavecchia
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Assessment ◽  
Conscious Dogs ◽  
Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Withdrawal Reflex

Expansion of nociceptive withdrawal reflex receptive fields in spinal cord injured humans

2004 ◽  
Vol 115 (12) ◽  
pp. 2798-2810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ole K. Andersen ◽  
Nanna B. Finnerup ◽  
Erika G. Spaich ◽  
Troels S. Jensen ◽  
Lars Arendt-Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Receptive Fields ◽  
Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Spinal Cord Injured

Defensive responses of larval Manduca sexta and their sensitization by noxious stimuli in the laboratory and field

2001 ◽  
Vol 204 (3) ◽  
pp. 457-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Walters ◽  
P. Illich ◽  
J. Weeks ◽  
M. Lewin
Keyword(s):  
Manduca Sexta ◽  
Noxious Stimulation ◽  
Cardinalis Cardinalis ◽  
Nociceptive Sensitization ◽  
Defensive Responses ◽  
Noxious Stimuli ◽  
Noxious Mechanical Stimulation ◽  
Anterior Segments ◽  
Low Amplitude ◽  
Withdrawal Response

Sensitization of defensive responses following noxious stimulation occurs in diverse species, but no demonstration of nociceptive sensitization in insects has been reported. A set of defensive behavior patterns in larval Manduca sexta is described and shown to undergo sensitization following noxious mechanical stimulation. The striking response is a rapid bending that accurately propels the head towards sharply poking or pinching stimuli applied to most abdominal segments. The strike is accompanied by opening of the mandibles and, sometimes, regurgitation. The strike may function to dislodge small attackers and startle larger predators. When the same stimuli are applied to anterior segments, the head is pulled away in a withdrawal response. Noxious stimuli to anterior or posterior segments can evoke a transient withdrawal (cocking) that precedes a strike towards the source of stimulation and may function to maximize the velocity of the strike. More intense noxious stimuli evoke faster, larger strikes and may also elicit thrashing, which consists of large, cyclic, side-to-side movements that are not directed at any target. These are sometimes also associated with low-amplitude quivering cycles. Striking and thrashing sequences elicited by obvious wounding are sometimes followed by grooming-like behavior. Very young larvae also show locomotor responses to noxious stimuli. Observations in the field of attacks on M. sexta larvae by Cardinalis cardinalis, an avian predator, suggest that thrashing decreases the success of a bird in biting a larva. In the laboratory, noxious stimulation was found to produce two forms of sensitization. Repeated pinching of prolegs produces incremental sensitization, with later pinches evoking more strikes than the first pinch. Brisk pinching or poking of prolegs also produces conventional sensitization, in which weak test stimuli delivered to another site evoke more strikes following noxious stimulation. The degree and duration of sensitization increase with more intense noxious stimulation. The most intense stimulus sequences were found to enhance strike frequency for approximately 60 min. Nociceptive sensitization generalizes to sites distant from sites of noxious stimulation, suggesting that it involves a general, but transient, arousal of defensive responses. http://www.biologists.com/JEB/movies/jeb3271.html

Long term reliability of nociceptive withdrawal reflex thresholds

2019 ◽  
Vol 320 ◽  
pp. 44-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Herm ◽  
Vera Silbereisen ◽  
Bernhard M. Graf ◽  
Christoph L. Lassen
Keyword(s):  
Nociceptive Withdrawal Reflex ◽  
Withdrawal Reflex
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