Reticulospinal drive increases maximal motoneuron output in humans

Abstract Maximal rate of force development in adult humans is determined by the maximal motoneuron output, however the origin of the underlying synaptic inputs remains unclear. Here, we tested a hypothesis that the maximal motoneuron output will increase in response to a startling cue, a stimulus that purportedly activates the pontomedullary reticular formation neurons that make mono- and disynaptic connections to motoneurons via fast-conducting axons. Twenty-two men were required to produce isometric knee extensor forces “as fast and as hard” as possible from rest to 75% of maximal voluntary force, in response to visual (VC), visual-auditory (VAC), or visual-startling cue (VSC). Motoneuron activity was estimated via decomposition of high-density surface electromyogram recordings over the vastus lateralis and medialis muscles. Reaction time was significantly shorter in response to VSC compared to VAC and VC (i.e., the StartReact effect). The VSC further elicited faster neuromechanical responses including a greater number of discharges per motor unit per second and greater maximal rate of force development, with no differences between VAC and VC. We provide evidence, for the first time, that the synaptic input to motoneurons increases in response to a startling cue, suggesting a contribution of subcortical pathways to maximal motoneuron output in humans, likely originating from the pontomedullary reticular formation.