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Prepulse modulation and recovery of trigemino-cervical reflex in normal subjects

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Abstract

Objective

In this study, we analyzed the inhibitory control on the trigemino-cervical reflex (TCR), and whether or not prepulse modulation (PPM) has an effect on TCR. Thus, we studied the PPM of TCR. We hypothesized that TCR would presumably be under the modulatory effect after the prepulse stimulus similar to blink reflex (BR). We also studied the recovery of TCR which was previously shown.

Methods

We included 13 healthy individuals. All subjects underwent recordings of TCR, TCR-PPM, and recovery of TCR. For TCR-PPM, a subthreshold stimulus to second finger 50 or 100 ms before the test stimulus was applied. For recovery of TCR, two stimuli at the infraorbital nerve were applied at 300, 500, and 800 ms interstimulus intervals (ISIs).

Results

There was an inhibition of bilateral late responses of TCR at the ISIs of both 50 ms and 100 ms. There was no change of latencies. Full recovery of TCR did not develop even at the ISI 800 ms.

Discussion

We have provided an evidence for the TCR-PPM in healthy subjects for the first time in this study. The prepulse inhibition is attributed to the functions of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus. Our study provides a strong indication that there are connections between pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus and trigemino-cervical circuit, which produces TCR.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Zeynep Değirmenci, Sibel Kilinc, Vildan Altop, Mecit Sepetcioglu, and Esat Cetinkaya for excellent technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey

    Meral E. Kızıltan, Burcu Nuran Arkalı & Ayşegül Gündüz

  2. Department of Neurology, Kocaeli Derince Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Pınar Bekdik Şirinocak

  3. Department of Neurology, Beylikdüzü State Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Tuba Akıncı

  4. Department of Neurology, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Tuba Cerrahoğlu Şirin

  5. Department of Neurology, Goztepe Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Fatma Candan

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  1. Meral E. Kızıltan
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  2. Pınar Bekdik Şirinocak
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  3. Tuba Akıncı
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  4. Tuba Cerrahoğlu Şirin
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  5. Burcu Nuran Arkalı
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  7. Ayşegül Gündüz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ayşegül Gündüz.

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The study was approved by the institutional review board, and informed consent was obtained.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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E. Kızıltan, M., Bekdik Şirinocak, P., Akıncı, T. et al. Prepulse modulation and recovery of trigemino-cervical reflex in normal subjects. Neurol Sci 40, 305–310 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-018-3624-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-018-3624-7

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