[Cortical somatosensory evoked potentials in patients with thalamic lesions (author's transl)]

The influence of thalamic lesions on the configuration of the somatosensory evoked cortical potential is studied on the basis of two own observations and of the literature. An increased latency of the initial component N1 and a reduced voltage in the beginning of the potential recorded on the side of the thalamic lesion are the most frequent findings in patients with thalamic syndromes. Most dramatic changes of the evoked response occur in cases with lesions of the VPL nucleus and with proprioceptive sensory disturbances. Considering the morphological basis of the normally configurated potential possible developmental mechanisms of the pathological evoked response are discussed.