INHIBITION AS AN ACCOMPANIMENT OF THE KNEE JERK

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Abstract
When single motor unit responses are recorded from the muscles of the quadriceps group of a human subject (voluntary extension) or the de-cerebrate cat (stretch reflex) we find that subsequent to elicitation of the knee jerk the rhythmic cycle is delayed for a period of 20-40 [sigma], occasionally as much as 60 [sigma], interpreted as an inhibitory interval. Not all motor units are discharged in the jerk response, but all, whether discharged or not, are similarly delayed in subsequent response. After the period of inhibition, each unit resumes its rhythmic response at an accelerated rate, but gradually returns to its original rate before the jerk occurred. The inhibitory interval extends to muscles of related function even though not actually involved in the jerk response. When the no. of units composing the background response is large the "silent period" is an approximate measure of the inhibitory interval.

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