Somatosensory Evoked Potential

Abstract Studies of somatosensory evoked potential assess the entire length of the afferent pathwaysin contrast to conventional sensory nerve conduction techniques primarily used to evaluate the distal segment of the peripheral nerve. Most studies focused on the latencies of spinal and scalp potential as a measure of central and peripheral neural conduction. Other areas of interest include field theory, which describes near-field versus far-field potentials in animal and human studies, and the related concept of junctional potential and its clinical implications.This chapter reviews recording techniques and neural sources and discusses diagnostic values and limitations. Published studies have dealt mainly with the median and tibial nerves and, less frequently, with the ulnar and peroneal nerves, and only occasionally with nonlimb nerves such as the trigeminal and pudendal nerves.