Measurement of readiness potential of involuntary movement

In order to analyze mechanisms of involuntary movement, readiness potentials of saliva swallowing were recorded in control and light sleep condition from healthy subjects. As a trigger signal for data averaging, surface EMG recorded from neck was used. Negative component of readiness potential before onset of swallowing was not observed clearly in sleep and control conditions. Sensory evoked potentials after swallowing were observed in both conditions. Result shows that it is possible to measure readiness potentials even in sleeping subjects.