AI Article Synopsis
- Cutaneous reflexes are crucial during movement, helping to quickly respond to obstacles and prevent falls, and are modulated based on the task and movement phase in both cats and humans.
- The study investigated how these reflexes function by electrically stimulating specific nerves in adult cats while they walked on different treadmill setups (tied-belt and split-belt) and recorded the muscle activity in all limbs.
- Findings indicate that while reflex patterns were consistent across both walking conditions, split-belt locomotion led to reduced modulation of reflexes in some muscles and increased variability in left-right motion symmetry to maintain stability.
Article Abstract
Introduction: During locomotion, cutaneous reflexes play an essential role in rapidly responding to an external perturbation, for example, to prevent a fall when the foot contacts an obstacle. In cats and humans, cutaneous reflexes involve all four limbs and are task- and phase modulated to generate functionally appropriate whole-body responses.
Methods: To assess task-dependent modulation of cutaneous interlimb reflexes, we electrically stimulated the superficial radial or superficial peroneal nerves in adult cats and recorded muscle activity in the four limbs during tied-belt (equal left-right speeds) and split-belt (different left-right speeds) locomotion.
Results: We show that the pattern of intra- and interlimb cutaneous reflexes in fore- and hindlimbs muscles and their phase-dependent modulation were conserved during tied-belt and split-belt locomotion. Short-latency cutaneous reflex responses to muscles of the stimulated limb were more likely to be evoked and phase-modulated when compared to muscles in the other limbs. In some muscles, the degree of reflex modulation was significantly reduced during split-belt locomotion compared to tied-belt conditions. Split-belt locomotion increased the step-by-step variability of left-right symmetry, particularly spatially.
Discussion: These results suggest that sensory signals related to left-right symmetry reduce cutaneous reflex modulation, potentially to avoid destabilizing an unstable pattern.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10288215 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2023.1199079 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Electrical cutaneous stimulation of the foot sole does not enhance rate of torque development during maximal effort isometric plantarflexion in females.
J Electromyogr Kinesiol
February 2025
Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada. Electronic address:
Rate of torque development (RTD) measures how rapidly one can generate torque and is crucial for balance and athletic performance. Fast RTD depends on the rapid recruitment of high threshold motor units (MUs). Cutaneous electrical stimulation has been shown to alter MU excitability, favoring high threshold MUs via reduced recruitment thresholds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMiddle and Long Latency Cutaneous Reflexes During the Stance Phase of Gait in Individuals with and Without Chronic Ankle Instability.
Brain Sci
December 2024
Department of Kinesiology, Indiana University, 1025 E 7th St, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
Background/objectives: Lower limb cutaneous reflex amplitudes can modulate across gait, which helps humans adjust rhythmic motor outputs to maintain balance in an ever-changing environment. Preliminary evidence suggests people who suffer from repetitive ankle sprains and residual feelings of giving way demonstrate altered cutaneous reflex patterns in the gastrocnemius. However, before cutaneous reflex assessment can be implemented as a clinical outcome measure, there is a need to substantiate these early findings by measuring reflex amplitudes across longer latency periods and exploring the variability of reflexes within each subject.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVoltage-sensitive calcium channels contribute to depolarization of both motor neurons and interneurons in animal studies, but less is known of their contribution to human motor control and whether blocking them has potential in future antispasmodic treatment in humans. Therefore, this study investigated the acute effect of nimodipine on the transmission of human spinal reflex pathways involved in spasticity. In a double-blinded, crossover study, we measured soleus muscle stretch reflexes and H reflexes and tibialis anterior cutaneous reflexes in 19 healthy subjects before and after nimodipine (tablet 60 mg) or baclofen (tablet 25 mg).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReliability of reflex measurements and perceived instability following cutaneous stimulation during gait.
J Electromyogr Kinesiol
February 2025
Indiana University, 1025 E 7th St, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) exhibit a variety of sensorimotor deficits which contribute to long-term health risks and lower overall health-related quality of life. Recent literature finds abnormal cutaneous reflex characteristics and perceptions of instability during gait among those with CAI. These may serve as important patient-specific outcome measures in diagnosing and monitoring the condition, however, the test-retest reliability of these measurements is still undetermined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe value of concomitant testing of cutaneous silent period with sympathetic skin response and heart rate variability in Type-2 diabetes patients: An electrophysiological study.
J Pak Med Assoc
October 2024
Department of Physiology, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq.
Objective: To explore the association among cutaneous silent period, sympathetic skin response and heart rate variability in diabetes patients.
Methods: The case-control study was conducted at the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Al- Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq, from November 1, 2020, to May 20, 2021, and comprised 24 healthy controls in Group I and 49 patients of type 2 diabetes in Group II who were recruited from the neuroelectrophysiological unit of Al-Imamain Al-Kadhmean Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. Both groups were subjected to cutaneous silent period, sympathetic skin response and heart rate variability testing.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!