Correlations between EEG state and spontaneous and evoked axial muscle EMG.

The occurrence of changes in the spontaneous EMG activity of the axial muscle lateral longissimus (LL) is highly correlated (P less than 0.001) with the occurrence of changes in EEG state in urethane-anesthetized rats. There is also a highly significant correlation (P less than 0.001) between the desynchronized EEG state and pudendal nerve evoked multi-unit EMG activity in LL. It is suggested that reticular activation upon pudendal nerve stimulation could facilitate subsequent lumbar axial motoneuron responses to this stimulation.