A new method for eliciting and studying H-reflexes in the human masseter

Arch Oral Biol. 1997 May;42(5):371-6. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9969(97)00029-0.

Abstract

A non-invasive method is presented for transmuscular stimulation of the masseteric nerve, using a frame to apply a cathode to the mandibular notch and an anode to the inside of the mouth. The H-reflex response was recorded using surface, macro and single motor-unit (SMU) electromyography (EMG) from the masseter. The latency of the reflex response representing the H-reflex in SMUs was determined from the cumulative sum of the peristimulus time histogram. This latency was then corrected using a spike-trigger averaging technique, where the SMU spikes were used as triggers and the macro EMG recording as the source. SMU latencies for the H-reflex in masseter were in the range 5.9-8.8 msec, whereas H-reflex latencies for surface EMG varied between 5.4 and 6.4 msec.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Adult
  • Electrodes
  • Electromyography / instrumentation
  • Electromyography / methods
  • Equipment Design
  • Evoked Potentials, Motor / physiology
  • Female
  • H-Reflex / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Masseter Muscle / innervation
  • Masseter Muscle / physiology*
  • Motor Neurons / physiology
  • Muscle Contraction / physiology
  • Needles
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Time Factors