Development of a data acquisition and analysis system for nociceptive withdrawal reflex and reflex receptive fields in humans

A system for data acquisition and analysis of nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) and reflex receptive field (RRF) is introduced. The system is constituted by hardware and software components. The hardware consists of devices commonly used for electrical stimulation and electromyographic and kinematic data recording. The software comprises two different programs: Wirex, a stand-alone program developed in LabView for data acquisition, and Reflex Lab, a Matlab-based toolbox for data analysis. These programs were developed to maximize the potential of the hardware, turning it into a complete stimulation system capable of automatic quantification of NWR and RRF. In this article, a brief review of NWR and RRF analysis is presented, the system features are described in detail and its present and future applications are discussed.

[1]  L. Arendt-Nielsen,et al.  Withdrawal reflex organisation to electrical stimulation of the dorsal foot in humans , 2001, Experimental Brain Research.

[2]  Lars Arendt-Nielsen,et al.  Foot-sole reflex receptive fields for human withdrawal reflexes in symmetrical standing position , 2003, Experimental Brain Research.

[3]  J. Schouenborg,et al.  Functional organization of the nociceptive withdrawal reflexes , 2004, Experimental Brain Research.

[4]  O. K. Andersen,et al.  Studies of the organization of the human nociceptive withdrawal reflex *† , 2007, Acta physiologica.

[5]  Lars Arendt-Nielsen,et al.  Reflex receptive fields for human withdrawal reflexes elicited by non-painful and painful electrical stimulation of the foot sole , 2001, Clinical Neurophysiology.

[6]  F. Mauguière,et al.  Electrophysiological assessment of nociception in normals and patients: the use of nociceptive reflexes. , 1990, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology. Supplement.

[7]  L. Arendt-Nielsen,et al.  Modular organization of human leg withdrawal reflexes elicited by electrical stimulation of the foot sole , 1999, Muscle & nerve.

[8]  O. K. Andersen,et al.  Long‐term facilitation of nociceptive withdrawal reflexes following low‐frequency conditioning electrical stimulation: A new model for central sensitization in humans , 2010, European journal of pain.

[9]  J. Rhudy,et al.  Defining the nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) threshold in human participants: A comparison of different scoring criteria , 2007, PAIN.

[10]  Christopher R. France,et al.  Using normalized EMG to define the nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) threshold: Further evaluation of standardized NFR scoring criteria , 2009, PAIN®.

[11]  John Harris,et al.  The organization of motor responses to noxious stimuli , 2004, Brain Research Reviews.

[12]  J. Schouenborg,et al.  Cutaneous inhibitory receptive fields of withdrawal reflexes in the decerebrate spinal rat. , 1996, The Journal of physiology.

[13]  L. Arendt-Nielsen,et al.  The effect of Ketamine on stimulation of primary and secondary hyperalgesic areas induced by capsaicin -- a double-blind, placebo-controlled, human experimental study , 1996, Pain.

[14]  L. Arendt-Nielsen,et al.  Reliability of the nociceptive flexor reflex (RIII) threshold and association with Pain threshold , 2008, European Journal of Applied Physiology.

[15]  Mariano Serrao,et al.  The lower limb flexion reflex in humans , 2005, Progress in Neurobiology.

[16]  B. Rehberg,et al.  Introduction of a continual RIII reflex threshold tracking algorithm , 2009, Brain Research.

[17]  L. Arendt-Nielsen,et al.  The nociceptive withdrawal reflex: Normative values of thresholds and reflex receptive fields , 2010, European journal of pain.

[18]  Werner Wolf,et al.  Onset Detection in Surface Electromyographic Signals: A Systematic Comparison of Methods , 2001, EURASIP J. Adv. Signal Process..

[19]  C. Sherrington.  Flexion‐reflex of the limb, crossed extension‐reflex, and reflex stepping and standing , 1910, The Journal of physiology.

[20]  A. Pertovaara,et al.  Capsaicin-induced central facilitation of a nociceptive flexion reflex in humans , 1993, Neuroscience Letters.

[21]  L. Arendt-Nielsen,et al.  New method for quantification and statistical analysis of nociceptive reflex receptive fields in humans , 2009, Journal of Neuroscience Methods.

[22]  K. Hagbarth,et al.  SPINAL WITHDRAWAL REFLEXES IN THE HUMAN LOWER LIMBS , 1960, Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry.