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Effects of Presynaptic and Postsynaptic Inhibition on the Variability of the Monosynaptic Reflex

Abstract

SUCCESSIVE monosynaptic reflexes evoked by essentially constant afferent volleys usually show considerable fluctuations in size1,2. It has been suggested1–3 that the chief cause of such variability would be background activity of interneurones impinging on to motoneurones. Monosynaptic transmission from afferent fibres to motoneurones may be controlled at the postsynaptic as well as the presynaptic level4, and so the question arises: which internuncial system, terminating either pre- or postsynaptically, is actually contributing to the monosynaptic reflex fluctuations ? For this reason we have compared the effects of afferent volleys leading to pre-and postsynaptic inhibition on fluctuations of the monosynaptic reflex.

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RUDOMIN, P., DUTTON, H. Effects of Presynaptic and Postsynaptic Inhibition on the Variability of the Monosynaptic Reflex. Nature 216, 292–293 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/216292a0

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