Study on brainstem trigeminal nerve evoked potentials in 50 normal subjects

Objectives:To explore the detection techniques and the characteristics of brainstem trigeminal evoked potentials (BTEP) by noninvasive stimulation. Methods:The upper lips of 50 healthy volunteers were stimulated by electrical pulses. The response waveforms of BTEP within 10 ms after stimulation were recorded from the scalp by far field recordings in search of the best parameters of stimulation and recording. BAEPs and SSEPs of median nerve stimulation were simultaneously detected with BTEPs in part of subjects.Results:Satisfactory BTEP waveforms were recorded in all of 50 subjects. The values of peak latency and interpeak latency were approximate to the values of literatures. The brainstem components of BTEP have more distinct and clear appearance than that of BAEP and SSEP. Conclusion:Distinct and stable response waveforms of BTEP could be elicited and recorded by noninvasive stimulation in healthy subjects. BETPs provide a new and reliable method for evaluating the trigeminal system in its peripheral structures and brainstem central pathway. It might be served as an additional parameter for studying brainstem functions.