Electrical stimuli were applied to the median nerve via a constant current stimulator (DS8R, Digitimer, Hertfordshire, UK) connected to two surface electrodes (silver-silver chloride electrodes of 8 mm diameter) attached to the skin on the dominant arm with adhesive tape. The anode was placed a few centimetres above the epicondyle on the lateral side of the arm. The position of the cathode was determined by moving a pen electrode (cathode) along the nerve path until the site eliciting an H reflex with the largest amplitude at a given intensity was identified.