2020 Volume 20 Pages 42-46
This study investigated the effects of superficial sensory stimulation on the excitability of the spinal motor nerve function using F-waves recorded for 10 healthy subjects. The F-wave was elicited from the right thenar eminence by stimulating the right median nerve. In the protocol, the F-wave was recorded for 1 minute at rest with the eyes closed, and recorded for one minute while subjects carried out tasks after a four-minute rest period. Three types of tasks were performed at the same time as the F-wave measurement: stimulation of superficial sensation of the right thumb (Task A), stimulation of superficial sensation of the right thumb with execution of calculation tasks (Task B), and execution of calculation tasks only (Task C). The results revealed that the amplitude of the F/M ratio in task A was higher than at rest during stimulation of superficial sensation (p<0.05), while in tasks B and C no change was observed. These results suggest that the excitability of the spinal motor nerve function, corresponding to the muscle on the right thenar eminence, was increased by superficial sensory stimulation triggering consciousness of the right thumb.
