Studying cortical involvement in the long latency stretch reflex response using subthreshold TMS

Studying cortical involvement in the long latency stretch reflex response using subthreshold TMS

Van de Ruit, M.L.

Van der Helm, F.C.T. (mentor)
Schouten, A.C. (mentor)

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

BioMechanical Engineering

BME

2011-02-18

Assessing mechanisms of peripheral reflex control is important for understanding movement disorders after suprapsinal nerve lesions like stroke. In the present study, reflex provocation by ramp and hold rotations (R&H) was combined with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). In four subjects, subthreshold single pulses TMS were applied to the primary motor cortex at carefully timed intervals, while short and long latency EMG responses of the m. flexor carpi radialis were elicited by R&H rotations around the wrist joint. TMS was found to inhibit the long latency response with a maximum inhibition when TMS was calculated to arrive at 45ms after stretch onset in all subjects. Excitation was found at 60 ms in all subjects. An involvement of the primary motor cortex in peripheral reflex loop operation was demonstrated. This involvement may be either exictatory or inhibititory on the stretch reflex.

reflex

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:7ccd1fc2-3cb8-443a-8075-013a34036528

2011-03-03

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2011 Van de Ruit, M.L.