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Masseter reflex latencies and amplitudes are not influenced by supratentorial and cerebellar lesions
Author(s) -
Hopf Hanns C.,
Hinrichs Carsten,
Stoeter Peter,
Urban Peter P.,
Marx Jürgen,
Thömke Frank
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4598(200001)23:1<86::aid-mus11>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - jaw jerk reflex , reflex , masseter muscle , medicine , midbrain , abnormality , pons , magnetic resonance imaging , cerebellum , anatomy , audiology , anesthesia , psychology , radiology , central nervous system , psychiatry
The aim of this study was to investigate possible influences of suprasegmental lesions on the masseter reflex. The masseter reflex was elicited in 54 patients with supratentorial (37 patients) or cerebellar (17 patients) lesions 3–11 days after the acute onset of clinical disease. Patients showing lesions within the pons and midbrain on thin‐slice magnetic resonance imaging were excluded from evaluation. The testing procedure included an additional facilitating maneuver (opening and closing the jaw before tapping). Masseter reflex latencies, interside differences, and amplitudes were within the normal range in all patients. Latencies were not different with and without the facilitating maneuver. Amplitudes were significantly higher with the maneuver, but interside differences of amplitudes were unchanged. Masseter reflex abnormality can be taken as a reliable measure of direct involvement of the reflex arc. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 23: 86–89, 2000