The effect of imperceptible Gaussian tendon vibration on the Hoffmann reflex.
Imperceptible vibratory Gaussian noise stimulation to the periphery is frequently being applied to humans to enhance motor performance. It is commonly theorized that this stimulation creates a Stochastic Resonance-like effect across both sensory and motor systems, but this idea has no empirical support. In contrast, there is substantial work showing that tendon vibration can be both excitatory and inhibitory on the lower motor neuron output. In this work, we demonstrate that delivery of imperceptible vibratory Gaussian noise stimulation to the wrist flexor tendons results in a 27% increase in excitability of the lower motor neuron pool in the median nerve, as evidenced by changes in the Hoffmann reflex. We argue that the well-documented tonic vibration reflex is a sufficient mechanistic explanation for the behavioral changes observed during the introduction of vibratory noise stimulation.
['Tenan|Matthew S|MS|', 'Tweedell|Andrew J|AJ|', 'Haynes|Courtney A|CA|', 'Passaro|Antony D|AD|']
D000328:Adult D004576:Electromyography D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008475:Median Nerve D009046:Motor Neurons D009119:Muscle Contraction D018482:Muscle, Skeletal D012021:Reflex, Abnormal D013710:Tendons D014732:Vibration D055815:Young Adult
Alpha-motorneuron H-reflex Motor control Spinal reflex Stochastic Resonance