Human muscle afferent responses to tendon taps. I. Characteristics of the waveform recorded with transcutaneous electrodes

Abstract

Responses of muscle afferent nerve fibres to tendon taps of digital muscles in the human can be recorded with surface electrodes attached to the skin over the nerve at the wrist. Using an effectively monopolar recording method, a considerable improvement in signal amplitude is achieved with simultaneous reduction in mechanical artefacts using differential amplification techniques. The characteristics of the afferent waveform (latency and duration) are discussed in relation to the applied stimulus. The contribution to the afferent response from receptors other than in the muscle have been shown to be minimal. Afferent fibres from primary muscle spindle endings are thought to be the major contributors to the afferent waveforms recorded by this technique.