Reevaluation of reflex responses of the human masseter muscle to electrical lip stimulation

This study examined the genuineness of these responses using both the classical analysis methods and the discharge rate method to uncover the realistic postsynaptic potentials in human trigeminal motor nucleus. Using the discharge rate method, we found that the electrical lip stimulation only generated a long-lasting single or compound inhibitory response that is followed by late, long-lasting excitation. These findings have important implications on the redrawing of the neuronal pathways of the trigeminal nerve that are frequently used to judge neuromuscular disorders of the trigeminal region. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We examined the human masseter reflex response to electrical stimulation of lower lip to uncover realistic postsynaptic potentials in the trigeminal motor nucleus. We found that the stimulation generates a long-lasting single or compound inhibitory response that is followed by a late, long-lasting excitation. These findings have important implications on the redrawing of the neuronal pathways of the trigeminal nerve that are frequently used to judge neuromuscular disorders of the trigeminal region.
Source: Journal of Neurophysiology - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Research Articles Source Type: research