title: Brainstem reflex excitability changes in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study we explored brainstem reflex excitability changes, blink reflex recovery cycles (BRRCs), and masseter inhibitory reflexes (MIRs) in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen ALS patients and 14 healthy control subjects were recruited. The BRRC was examined at interstimulus intervals (ISIs) of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 ms. The latencies and durations of silent period 1 (SP1) and silent period 2 (SP2) of the MIR were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Decreased R2 area suppression was prominent in the ALS group at ISIs of 200, 300, and 400 ms (P < 0.02), whereas no significant differences between groups at 100, 500, and 600 ms ISIs (P > 0.05) were observed. SP2 duration was significantly prolonged in the ALS group compared with controls (P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brainstem inhibitory and excitatory interneuronal activity is altered in ALS, possibly brought about by physiological and morphological changes at the cortical or bulbar levels. Muscle Nerve 56: 925-929, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Neurophysiology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Beşevler, 06500, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Neurophysiology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Beşevler, 06500, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Merve Bahar
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ercan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Neurophysiology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Beşevler, 06500, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: İskender
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Neurophysiology, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Beşevler, 06500, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hidayet Reha
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kuruoğlu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: ALS; blink reflex recovery cycle; brainstem reflex; excitability; masseter inhibitory reflex