Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 13 July 1973:
Vol. 181. no. 4095, pp. 182 - 184
DOI: 10.1126/science.181.4095.182
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Reflex Compensation for Variations in the Mechanical Properties of a Muscle

T. Richard Nichols 1 and James C. Houk 1

1 Department of Physiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115

Soleus muscles of anesthetized cats were stretched and released by different amounts while their motor axons were stimulated. Muscle force increased, then gave way in response to large stretch. In the presence of active stretch reflexes in decerebrate cats, the give in force was absent. We demonstrate that autogenetic reflexes can compensate for variations in muscular stiffness revealed when responses to stretch and release are compared.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
The role of intrinsic muscle mechanics in the neuromuscular control of stable running in the guinea fowl.
M. A. Daley, A. Voloshina, and A. A. Biewener (2009)
J. Physiol. 587, 2693-2707
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Unsteady locomotion: integrating muscle function with whole body dynamics and neuromuscular control.
A. A. Biewener and M. A. Daley (2007)
J. Exp. Biol. 210, 2949-2960
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Running over rough terrain: guinea fowl maintain dynamic stability despite a large unexpected change in substrate height.
M. A. Daley, J. R. Usherwood, G. Felix, and A. A. Biewener (2006)
J. Exp. Biol. 209, 171-187
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Intrinsic Properties and Reflex Compensation in Reinnervated Triceps Surae Muscles of the Cat: Effect of Activation Level.
C. M.J.I. Huyghues-Despointes, T. C. Cope, and T. R. Nichols (2003)
J Neurophysiol 90, 1537-1546
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)