Pattern of projections of group I afferents from elbow muscles to motoneurones supplying wrist muscles in man

Summary The pattern of projections of low threshold afferents from triceps and biceps brachii muscles onto motoneurones innervating muscles acting at the wrist was assessed by a reflex and a poststimulus time histogram (psth) technique. Activation of low-threshold afferents originating from elbow flexors or extensors resulted in an early, short-lasting inhibition of wrist flexor motoneurones (flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris). An inhibition was also found in the extensor carpi radialis (ECR) motoneurones after stimulation of low-threshold afferents from triceps. Evidence is presented that Ia fibres contribute to these effects. The inhibitory effects were found in all subjects, but they were constant in only 57% of the reflex experimental sessions and in 25% of the explored motor units. Stimulation of biceps low-threshold afferents was always ineffective on ECR motoneurones. No early facilitation was ever seen in motor nuclei innervating wrist muscles following stimulation of low threshold afferents from biceps and triceps. The pattern of transjoint projections of group I afferents from proximal to distal muscles and from distal to proximal ones (Cavallari and Katz 1989) is discussed in relation to that described in the cat forelimb.