Soleus H-reflex Operant Conditioning Changes the H-reflex Recruitment Curve

Overview

Journal Muscle Nerve

Date 2013 Jan 3

PMID 23281107

Citations 18

Authors

Aiko K Thompson

Xiang Yang Chen

Jonathan R Wolpaw

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Operant conditioning can gradually change the human soleus H-reflex. The protocol conditions the reflex near M-wave threshold. In this study we examine its impact on the reflexes at other stimulus strengths.

Methods: H-reflex recruitment curves were obtained before and after a 24-session exposure to an up-conditioning (HRup) or a down-conditioning (HRdown) protocol and were compared.

Results: In both HRup and HRdown subjects, conditioning affected the entire H-reflex recruitment curve. In 5 of 6 HRup and 3 of 6 HRdown subjects, conditioning elevated (HRup) or depressed (HRdown), respectively, the entire curve. In the other HRup subject or the other 3 HRdown subjects, the curve was shifted to the left or to the right, respectively.

Conclusions: H-reflex conditioning does not simply change the H-reflex to a stimulus of particular strength; it also changes the H-reflexes to stimuli of different strengths. Thus, it is likely to affect many actions in which this pathway participates.

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