Faculty of Physical Education, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Mikołowska street 72, 40-065, Katowice, Poland.
Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland.
Neurol Sci. 2017 Dec;38(12):2139-2143. doi: 10.1007/s10072-017-3129-9. Epub 2017 Sep 30.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of estimating a startle response and sensorimotor gating based on changes in the range of vertical pressure force of the feet on the ground during a dynamometric examination. The study encompassed 13 healthy and physically fit men (age: 23.3 ± 2.0 years; height: 178.0 ± 6.1 cm; and weight: 76.1 ± 9.0 kg). The inhibitory mechanisms of startle reflex were used as the measure of sensorimotor gating. It was triggered by a strong acoustic stimulus (106 dB SPL, 40 ms), which was preceded by a similar, weaker signal (80 dB SPL, 20 ms). Startle reflex was evaluated using a piezoelectric force platform. The results of the conducted study show that the range of vertical pressure force of the feet caused by the reaction to a strong acoustic stimulus is significantly smaller when this stimulus is preceded by a signal of lower intensity (prepulse). Such assessment is only possible with the participants' eyes open. The generalized startle response of a person may be estimated using a force platform, based on changes in the range of vertical pressure force of the feet on the ground, which are caused by unexpected acoustic stimuli. There is a strong indication that using a force platform to evaluate sensorimotor gating could be used as an alternative to electromyographic examinations.
本研究旨在评估基于测力检查过程中足底垂直地面压力范围变化来估计惊跳反应和感觉运动门控的可能性。该研究纳入了 13 名健康且体能良好的男性（年龄：23.3±2.0 岁；身高：178.0±6.1cm；体重：76.1±9.0kg）。惊跳反射的抑制机制被用作感觉运动门控的测量指标。它由一个强烈的声学刺激（106dB SPL，40ms）触发，该刺激之前是一个类似的、较弱的信号（80dB SPL，20ms）。惊跳反射使用压电测力平台进行评估。研究结果表明，当刺激强度较低的信号（预备脉冲）先于强烈的声学刺激时，足底对强烈声学刺激产生的垂直压力力范围明显较小。只有当参与者睁眼时，才能进行这种评估。可以使用测力平台根据足底垂直地面压力范围的变化来估计个体的一般惊跳反应，这种变化是由意外的声学刺激引起的。有力的证据表明，使用测力平台评估感觉运动门控可以作为肌电图检查的替代方法。
