Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology
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Use of brain stem reflexes in the assessment of orofacial function requires insight into the influence of demographic factors such as gender. The aim of this study was to characterize possible gender differences in the relation between quantitative measures of the masseteric exteroceptive suppression (ES) reflex response and pain perception evoked by incrementally increasing electrical stimulation. ⋯ These findings suggest that gender differences may exist in the sensory-motor integration of primary afferent input from the orofacial region and that these differences should be considered in the design of future reflex studies.
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NREM sleep patterns of narcoleptic patients with cataplexy were studied, focusing on their sleep 'microstructure', by analyzing the cyclic alternating pattern (CAP). ⋯ Our findings might indicate that in narcolepsy very-slow oscillation processes less effective than normal might be present, with a subtly impaired capability of grouping the other sleep EEG activities; this aspect deserves further insight in order to obtain a better understanding of its functional meaning.