Arrest Reaction in Man

Abstract

In spite of many reports of arrest reaction in animals, there are very few reports in man. During a therapeutic stereotactic operation we observed peculiar phenomena caused by electrical stimulation to the deep structure of the cerebrum. This phenomenon is quite similar to that reported by Van Buren, but there are a few differences between them. Arrest reaction was observed in 14 of 23 cases, 17 of 28 tracks. Stimuli which caused the arrest reaction were 60–100 Hz square waves of 1 msec duration and 5–15 V. The electrical stimulation caused an interruption of counting and other motor actions, which could be resumed following release of stimuli. Psychic confusion or memory disturbances were not observed with the exception of a few cases. The arrest reaction that we observed is thought to be due to a direct effect on the head of the caudate nucleus, not due to secondary effects on the internal capsule and the motor fiber in the vicinity of the caudate nucleus. However, the possibility that the current spread to the motor fiber cannot be definitely ruled out.

Arrest Reaction in Man: Motor Arrest Response by Electrical Stimulation of the Deep Structure of the Cerebrum

“…During a therapeutic stereotactic operation in a patient in 1971, electrical stimulation through an electrode inserted into the brain induced abrupt but temporary arrest of voluntary motor activity. Since then, this peculiar phenomenon, which we refer to as arrest reaction, has been investigated (Kwak et al 1973(Kwak et al , 1974a(Kwak et al , b, 1975.…”

“…During a therapeutic stereotactic operation in a patient in 1971, electrical stimulation through an electrode inserted into the brain induced abrupt but temporary arrest of voluntary motor activity. Since then, this peculiar phenomenon, which we refer to as arrest reaction, has been investigated (Kwak et al 1973(Kwak et al , 1974a(Kwak et al , b, 1975 Stevens et al 1961;Van Buren 1963, 1966, but almost all of the investigations were done with animals, the stimuli were various and the motor arrest were not uniform. Yet, the arrest reaction which Van Buren (1963, 1966) observed in man is very similar to the response that we observed.…”