Somatosensory evoked cortical responses: detection in normal infants

The detection of evoked cortical potentials to a peripheral stimulus is a possible method of studying sensory innervation in children. The purpose of the present study was to determine the consistency with which evoked responses to the electrical stimulation of nerve trunks can be recorded, and to assess the validity of computer analysis of the records. Automated analysis was felt to be desirable because the identification of evoked potentials is usually subjective. Recording sessions were carried out on 37 normal children between the ages of one and six months, and where possible were repeated on three occasions at intervals of at least one month. Using a rigid recording regime, evoked responses could be obtained in 90 to 95 per cent of sessions, the success rate varying with the site of stimulation. An objective computer analysis of records has been developed which is able to recognise evoked potentials as successfully as an experienced human observer.