LIMB TEMPERATURE AND HUMAN TREMORS

The changes in postural tremor of the hand produced by moderate coolin g of the muscles of one forearm have been investigated in 16 normal su bjects and in 16 patients with essential tremor. In both groups, cooli ng produced a profound long lasting decrease in tremor level of the ip silateral hand. In normal subjects, although cooling reduced the tremo r size, the EMG of the active muscle clearly increased. Warming the li mb in normal subjects produced an increase in tremor level and decreas e in EMG. Cooling or warming the limb did not, however, significantly change the peak frequency which was quite stable for each subject. The results of cooling were with a brief period of which also reduces tre mor size. Local cooling may be manoeuvre for patients with tremor, and for others who wish to reduce their tremor temporarily in order to im prove dexterity.