The role of the supporting lower limb function in the premotor changes in the H-reflex of m. soleus

In studies on healthy humans we examined changes in the H reflex amplitude and the intensity of background EMG of the soleus muscle within the premotor period of voluntary extension of the contralateral ankle joint. The tested persons were in the lying prone position with relaxed legs, or in the standing position with support on both feet or only on one foot with additional hand support. The soleus H reflex was induced using the standard technique by transcutaneous stimulation (1 ms long current pulses) of the tibial nerve afferents in the region of the popliteal dimple. Using superficial electrodes, we recorded the integral EMG reflex discharge from the m. soleus, amplified, and visualized it using a two-channel digital oscillograph, Handiscope HS3 (TiePieEngeneering, Netherlands). In other tests, we also recorded tonic background EMG activity from the soleus muscle. After fullwave rectification and low-frequency filtration we estimated the area under the integral curve enveloping oscillations of the above mentioned EMG. In the lying position the extension of contralateral ankle joint evoked anticipatory facilitation of the testing soleus H-reflex. It manifested in 90-60 ms and reached the maximum 30 ms before the conditioning movement. Considerable changes of the soleus background EMG-activity did not occur during the premotor period. Consequently, it is supposed that the mechanism leading to the H-reflex facilitation is the decrease of presynaptic inhibition at 1a. In the standing position with support on both feet contralateral ankle joint extension caused anticipatory inhibition of the soleus H-reflex and simultaneous suppression of background EMG 90-60 ms before the conditioning movement. These results indicate the anticipatory changes of muscle tone and suggest participation of postsynaptic mechanism in the inhibition of the testing H-reflex. When the moving contralateral extremity had no support, the contralateral ancle joint extension did not cause anticipatory inhibition but facilitation of the soleus H-reflex. Its time course was similar to that observed in the lying position. The considerable changes of the soleus background EMG-activity did not arise. The results of the experiments indicate that the nature of premotor changes in the spinal neuron circuits, associated with the lower limb muscles, depends not only on the type of upcoming voluntary movement. Being caused by the contralateral limb movements, they depend greatly on the fulfillment or nonfulfillment of the support function by the lower limbs.