A numeric study of the noise-induced tremor in a mathematical model of the stretch reflex

A mathematical model of the stretch reflex for the cat soleus muscle is presented. The time-delay differential equations of the model are solved using the fourth-order Runge–Kutta algorithm, introducing a Gaussian-noise term to simulate the environmental noise. The muscle response dynamics are then studied under various levels of average muscle activation. Finally, the feasibility of explaining the so-called physiological tremor from the properties of the stretch reflex mechanisms is discussed by comparing our results with reported experimental evidence.