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Trigeminal somatosensory evoked potentials: a normal value study
M A Pogrel1, D Mouhabaty, T Dodson
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of California, San Francisco.
Journal of Dentistry
|October 1, 1992
Summary
Somatosensory evoked potentials from the lower lip show consistent waveforms but vary between individuals. This method may offer an objective way to assess trigeminal sensory nerve function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Electrophysiology
Background:
- Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) are crucial for assessing sensory pathway function.
- The trigeminal nerve, particularly its sensory component to the lower lip, is vital for facial sensation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define normal somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) from the lower lip.
- To evaluate the reliability of SEPs for assessing trigeminal sensory nerve function.
Main Methods:
- Obtained SEPs from the lower lip of 40 healthy volunteers.
- Defined a consistent triphasic waveform, minimizing artefact.
- Analyzed variations in amplitude and latency between subjects.
Main Results:
- A consistent triphasic waveform was identified.
- Greater inter-subject variability was observed in amplitude compared to latency.
- One side of the lower lip can serve as a control for the contralateral side.
Conclusions:
- Inter-subject variability may limit the establishment of universally reliable normal SEP values.
- SEPs from the lower lip show potential as an objective measure for evaluating trigeminal sensory nerve function.