 Many elements of the Spock character were improvised by  Nimoy, Leonard (qv) during production. For instance, the "Vulcan  neck pinch" was his suggestion during filming of "The Enemy Within"  for how Spock could subdue an opponent. The "Vulcan salute" was  created during the production of "Amok Time" using a version of a  traditional Jewish religious hand gesture as a distinctive Vulcan  greeting.