EXTEROCEPTIVE SUPPRESSION OF TEMPORALIS AND MASSETER MUSCLE-ACTIVITY IS ENHANCED IN OFFSPRING OF HYPERTENSIVES

Exteroceptive suppression of temporalis and masseter muscle activity w as examined in young men with and without a parental history of hypert ension. Recent clinical studies suggest that the second exteroceptive suppression period is attenuated in several chronic pain disorders and that this brainstem reflex may serve as a noninvasive index of endoge nous pain control. In the present study, offspring of hypertensives ex hibited a significant protraction of the late exteroceptive suppressio n period for both muscle sites, suggesting that the decreased pain sen sitivity previously observed in individuals at risk for hypertension m ay be related to enhanced central pain modulation.