Novel human models for elucidating mechanisms of rate-sensitive H-reflex depression

摘要

This study used novel human neurophysiologic models to investigate whether the mechanism of rate-sensitive H-reflex depression lies in the pre-synaptic or post-synaptic locus in humans. We hypothesized that pre-synaptic inhibition would suppress Ia afferents and H-reflexes without suppressing alpha motor neurons or motor evoked potentials (MEPs). In contrast, post-synaptic inhibition would suppress alpha motor neurons, thereby reducing H-reflexes and MEPs.