Neurology · 1988 · 96 citations · 0 references
Median Nerve SomatosensoryNeuromodulation TherapiesNeurotransmissionPeripheral NervePeripheral NervesState‐dependent ChangesSensory SystemsPeripheral Nervous SystemSocial SciencesN20 ComponentSensory NeuroscienceCognitive ElectrophysiologyNeurologyShort-latency ComponentsNeurological FunctionSleepSensorimotor IntegrationNeurostimulationNervous SystemSleep DisorderNeurophysiologyNeuroanatomyPotential TestingNeuroscienceBrain ElectrophysiologyCentral Nervous SystemElectrophysiologyMedicine
Short-latency components of median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials are generally assumed to be unaffected by sleep and level of arousal. We found that sleep prolongs the latency and alters the morphology of the N20 component in normal subjects. These changes may represent differential effects of sleep on various elements contributing to generation of the N20. Failure to control for patient state may degrade the reliability of clinical somatosensory evoked potential testing.