[Evoked potentials and their application in epilepsy]

Evoked potentials (PE) are used in a technique for functional exploration of the central nervous system which allows a response to be generated following repeated sensory stimulation. There are different modalities according to the stimulus used. The most frequently used are visual, auditory and somestesic stimuli. There are also cognitive endogenous potentials. Each response requires the use of specific methods to obtain it.

In this paper we present a summary of the methodology for obtaining evoked potentials and also a review of their application in the field of epilepsy. There are different findings in studies using PE which are characteristic of certain syndromes in which epileptic seizures occur. Correlation of alterations in PE with the clinical findings may be of help in studying the physiopathology of epilepsy and subsequent follow up, especially for the study of cognitive functions.