Radiation of phasic stretch reflex in biceps brachii to muscles of the arm in man and its restriction during development.

Abstract

1. The phasic stretch reflex in biceps brachii has been recorded in 372 normal subjects aged from 31 weeks gestation to 55 years. The stimulus used was a brief mechanical pulse delivered by a hand-held electromagnetic vibrator and the response was measured in the surface electromyogram. 2. The threshold for eliciting the reflex was low in the newborn and increased over the first 6 years to values corresponding to those of adults. 3. On the basis of timing it is concluded that the phasic stretch reflex has a monosynaptic component at all ages. 4. The surface electromyogram was also recorded in triceps brachii, pectoralis major, deltoid and hypothenar muscles. In some subjects evoking the phasic stretch reflex in biceps brachii resulted in short latency responses in these muscles, a phenomenon termed radiated response. 5. The probability of occurrence of radiated responses and their magnitudes were greatest at birth and decreased over 2-4 years. 6. Experiments were performed to determine how far mechanical transmission of the stimulus to biceps through the tissues of the arm might account for the radiated responses in the other muscles studied. It was concluded that the responses observed in triceps brachii, pectoralis major, deltoid and hypothenar muscles, following vibration of the biceps tendon, are primarily due to the radiation of the activity carried in biceps muscle afferents to the alpha-motoneurones of the respective muscles. 7. On the basis of timing it is concluded that in subjects below 2 years the radiated responses in the muscles studied have a monosynaptic component.