Abstract <p>Silent periods (SPs) of the masticatory muscles are a classicalelectrophysiological inhibitory phenomenon used to assess the functionalstate of brainstem interneuronal circuits. The aim of this studywas to investigate the potential of using transcutaneous electricalstimulation (TES) of the cervical spinal cord enlargement to activatebrainstem interneuronal circuits generating SPs in the bilateralmasticatory muscles (<i>m. masseter</i>, <i>m. temporalis anterior</i>) in 13 healthymen aged 19–20 years. SPs were recorded during TES (pulse duration0.1 ms, frequency 0.1 Hz) applied at the C₆–C₇ vertebrallevel during maximal voluntary jaw clenching. The incidence of SPconfigurations elicited by threshold, submaximal, and pain-thresholdstimulation, as well as the latency and duration of components ofthe double, single, and combined SP, were analyzed across differentstimulation intensities and during a 30-second isometric jaw clench.TES elicited stable inhibitory responses, typical in configurationand incidence dynamics of the classical masticatory inhibitory reflex,and was distinguished by the absence of subjectively perceived painat submaximal intensity. The percentage incidence of single, suppressed,double (SP1 and SP2), and merged SPs depended on stimulation intensity.The latency and duration of components of the double, single, andcombined SPs of the masticatory muscles on both sides did not change significantlywith stimulation intensity (<i>p</i> &gt;0.05, Wilcoxon test with FDR correction). On average, the latencyof SP1 for all masticatory muscles during submaximal stimulationwas 8.1 ± 0.4 ms, with a duration of 25.7 ± 0.8 ms; the latencyof SP2 was 53.0 ± 1.2 ms with a duration of 48.1 ± 2.3 ms; the latencyof the single SP was 7.7 ± 0.3 ms with a duration of 24.0 ± 0.6ms; and the latency of the combined SP was 8.9 ± 0.2 ms with a durationof 94.6 ± 3.4 ms. Against the background of a 30-second jaw clench,the duration of single and combined SPs increased bilaterally, andthe latency of the combined SP of the right m. temporalis anteriorshortened. The obtained data highlight the potential of the methodfor activating masticatory muscle SPs using TES of the cervicalspinal cord enlargement for studying the reflex mechanisms underlyinghuman orofacial movements and the integrative mechanisms of sensorimotormasticatory control in general, as well as for developing new diagnosticand rehabilitative strategies.</p>