Pathways of descending influence on H reflex during sleep

Abstract

1. 1. H reflex of calf muscle in normal man is depressed remarkably during REM period. The location of the supraspinal centers possibly involved in such a depressing influence and its descending pathways were investigated. 2. 2. In patients with almost complete transverse spinal lesions, the H reflex would persist unchanged during REM periods suggesting that its depression is due to descending influences from supraspinal centers. 3. 3. Results obtained from patients with partial spinal lesions suggested that the descending pathways responsible for the depression of H reflex during REM period course mainly along the anterior funiculi and the anterior halves of the lateral funiculi. 4. 4. The result obtained from a patient with Wallenberg's syndrome suggested that the central portion of the medulla might play an important role for the depression.