Difference in electromyographic response of finger flexion muscles between tonic vibration reflex and finger flexion reflex induced by finger tip vibration.

Vibratory stimulus applied to the skin of the finger tip induced flexion reflex in that finger. By using the cross-correlation function, characteristics of this reflex were compared to those of tonic vibration reflex (TVR). In the cross-correlogram between unitary electromyogram (EMG) activity in the muscle flexor digitorum superficialis and vibratory stimulus with random frequency, one mode was seen in TVR, and two modes in finger flexion reflex. The secondary mode was significantly wider than the primary mode. Thus it may originate from skin mechanoreceptors and manifest via a reflex center involving a long loop.