Effects of fusimotor stimulation on dynamic and position sensitivities of spindle afferents in the primate.

The effects of stimulation of single static and dynamic fusimotor fibers on the dynamic sensitivity and position sensitivity of primary and secondary spindle afferents have been studied in the soleus muscle of the baboon. Static fusimotor fibers decreased the mean dynamic sensitivity of primary afferents at all rates of stretch and stimulation. The magnitude of the decrease in dynamic sensitivity increased as the rate of fusimotor stimulation was increased. Qualitatively similar effects were observed in secondary afferents. Static fusimotor stimulation had a strong excitatory effect on spindle afferent resting discharge and greatly increased the mean position sensitivity of both primary and secondary afferents. Dynamic fusimotor fibers increased the mean dynamic index of primary afferents at all rates of stretch and stimulation. The effect of dynamic fusimotor fibers on the mean dynamic sensitivity, however, was dependent on the rate of muscle stretch; at rates below 15 mm/s the dynamic sensitivity was substantially increased, whereas at rates greater than 15 mm/s it was either unchanged or decreased. Dynamic fusimotor fibers slightly decreased the mean position sensitivity of primary afferents.