ACTIVATION OF CAROTID BARORECEPTORS INHIBITS SPINAL REFLEXES IN MAN

Citation
H. Rau et al., ACTIVATION OF CAROTID BARORECEPTORS INHIBITS SPINAL REFLEXES IN MAN, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology, 89(5), 1993, pp. 328-334
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences
ISSN journal
00134694
Volume
89
Issue
5
Year of publication
1993
Pages
328 - 334
Database
ISI
SICI code
0013-4694(1993)89:5<328:AOCBIS>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the effect of barorecept ors on a spinal reflex. The Achilles tendon reflex (T reflex), a monos ynaptic spinal reflex, was chosen as an indicator of descending influe nces of central activation. The baroreceptors are stretch receptors wh ich respond to extensions of the arterial wall. Carotid sinus barorece ptors can be manipulated non-invasively by means of a cuff around the neck. In this study, the phase-related external suction (PRES) neck cu ff technique was used. PRES applies short changes in cuff pressure as a function of heart cycle phase, controlling for non-specific effects found in other baroreceptor manipulation methods. The T reflex was red uced when elicited during the highest levels of baroreceptor activatio n. Reflex amplitude was largest when elicited during the lowest levels of baroreceptor activation. These results are consistent with previou s findings that baroreceptor activation reduces CNS excitability.