Increased baseline temperature improves the acquisition of contact heat evoked potentials after spinal cord injury

• Published in: Clinical neurophysiology Vol. 123; no. 3; pp. 582 - 589
• Main Authors: Kramer, J.L.K, Haefeli, J, Curt, A, Steeves, J.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.03.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Electrodiagnosis. Electric activity recording; Evoked Potentials - physiology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hot Temperature; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Laser evoked potentials; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nervous system; Neurology; Neurons, Afferent - physiology; Neurophysiology; Physical Stimulation; Pinprick; Quantitative sensory testing; Reaction Time - physiology; Skin Temperature - physiology; Somesthesis and somesthetic pathways (proprioception, exteroception, nociception); interoception; electrolocation. Sensory receptors; Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology; Spinothalamic tract; Time Factors; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Pinprick; Laser evoked potentials; Spinothalamic tract; Quantitative sensory testing; Neurophysiology; Dermatome; Sensation; Nervous system diseases; Temperature; Shortening; Electrophysiology; Cervical spinal cord; Electrodiagnosis; Chronic; Evoked potential; Spinal cord trauma; Central nervous system disease; Stimulus duration; Perception; Skin; Spinal cord disease
• ISSN: 1388-2457; 1872-8952
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2011.08.013

Highlights ► Increased skin surface baseline temperature increases the N2P2 amplitude of contact heat evoked potentials. ► The effect of an increased baseline on N2P2 amplitude can be attributed in part to shortening the stimulus duration and improving the synchronization of the afferent volley. ► After spinal cord injury, varying the baseline temperature improved the perception of noxious stimuli and acquisition of evoked potentials in dermatomes with absent or diminished sensation according to conventional sensory testing methods (i.e. pinprick testing and 35 °C baseline contact heat evoked potentials).