Blink reflex in facial-hypoglossal anastomosis.

The blink reflex was investigated in two patients after a facial-hypoglossal anastomosis had been performed. In each case the first component of the blink reflex could be demonstrated with normal latency on the operated side after ipsilateral supraorbital stimulation. These findings give further evidence that the first component of the blink reflex is not monosynaptic in nature. The second component of the blink reflex was distinctly retarded in the first case and was not seen at all in the second case. The second component of the blink reflex is influenced strongly by alteration of the intrabulbar and efferent part of the reflex circuits; it shows some correlation with voluntary motor activity.