Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology
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We hypothesized the filtering of sensory input from face and hand at brainstem may reorganize in hemifacial spasm (HFS) and postparalytic facial syndrome (PFS). Thus, we examined the prepulse inhibition of blink reflex (BR-PPI) in HFS and PFS. We included 12 healthy subjects, 13 patients with HFS, and 11 patients with PFS. ⋯ BR-PPI was decreased on both sides of patients. The mean R2 recovery was higher on both sides of patients with HFS and PFS (p = 0.007). Filtering of facial sensory input is decreased probably to monitor and to correct the sequence of facial movements in these disorders.