title: Babinski response: stimulus and effector.
abstract: This is an electromyographic study of the activity in flexor and extensor muscles of the big toe in 22 patients with a Babinski sign and 49 controls, after mechanical or electrical stimulation of the sole. The results indicate: (1) the Babinski sign is mediated by the extensor hallucis longus (EHL), and not by the extensor hallucis brevis; (2) electrical stimuli may fail to activate the EHL in these patients, and conversely may evoke EHL reflexes in control subjects; (3) in skin reflexes, electrical and mechanical stimuli are not freely interchangeable.
mesh_terms: D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011999:Recruitment, Neurophysiological; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal; D001405:Reflex, Babinski; D013997:Time Factors; D014034:Toes / Q000503:physiopathology