The primary mode of action of local anesthetics is through sodium channel and axonal conduction blockade. Local anesthetics have also extensive effects on pre-synaptic calcium channels that must function to stimulate the release of neurotransmitters. Thus, interference with calcium channel conductance may enhance spinal anesthesia with local anesthetics. The present study was designed to invest...

Saccade latency is reduced when the fixation stimulus is removed shortly before a saccade target appears (gap task) as compared to when the fixation stimulus remains present (overlap task). To test the assumption that this gap effect benefits from advanced motor preparation (M. Paré & D. P. Munoz, 1996), we manipulated target onset independently of the signal to launch a saccade (peripheral off...

The latency of saccadic eye movements evoked by the presentation of auditory and visual targets was studied while starting eye position was either 0 or 20 deg right, or 20 deg left. The results show that for any starting position the latency of visually elicited saccades increases with target eccentricity with respect to the eyes. For auditory elicited saccades and for any starting position the...

To examine the role of dopamine receptor subtypes mediating analgesic and motor responses to opioids, rats were pretreated with either saline or a selective D-1 or D-2 dopamine receptor antagonist 10 min prior to morphine (12 mg/kg IP). Analgesic response latency was determined using the hot plate test (52.5 degrees C and 55 degrees C), and catalepsy was assessed using the abnormal posture test...

BACKGROUND Because of lack of local normative data, electrodiagnostic laboratories in Nigeria apply standard values generated in the USA and Europe to diagnose different median nerve abnormalities. AIM To develop normative values for motor and sensory median nerve conduction studies (NCSs) in Nigerian population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS In a cross-sectional study design, a total of 200 healthy...

When the eyes and arm are involved in a tracking task, the characteristics of each system differ from those observed when they act alone: smooth pursuit (SP) latency decreases from 130 ms in external target tracking tasks to 0 ms in self-moved target tracking tasks. Two models have been proposed to explain this coordination. The common command model suggests that the same command be addressed t...

OBJECTIVE To derive normative values for ulnar nerve conduction study of the active recording electrode on the first dorsal interosseous muscle (FDI) and the reference electrode on the proximal phalanx of the thumb. METHOD Ulnar nerve motor conduction study with FDI and abductor digiti minimi muscle (ADM) recording was performed in 214 hands of 107 healthy subjects. Ulnar NCS was performed wi...

OBJECTIVE To compare results obtained with the NC-stat--an automated nerve testing device--to traditional nerve conduction studies relevant to carpal tunnel syndrome screening. METHODS Thirty-three subjects recruited from patients referred for electrodiagnostic testing were studied. Measurements including the distal motor latency (DML), distal sensory latency (DSL), and median-ulnar latency d...

Many researchers have drawn a clear distinction between fast feedback responses to mechanical perturbations (e.g., stretch responses) and voluntary control processes. But this simple distinction is difficult to reconcile with growing evidence that long-latency stretch responses share most of the defining capabilities of voluntary control. My general view-and I believe a growing consensus-is tha...

The latency time, which is the residual vibration of afine actuator and track eccentricity, has been the aim for direct pull-in in optical disk system. Modified velocity profiles of the coarse actuator and control inputs of the fine actuator have been proposed for the minimum residual vibration. Generally, there exists eccentricity due to mismatch of the disk center and the axis of a spindle mo...