Differential influence of posture and intentional movement on human somatosensory evoked potentials evoked by...

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) recorded from humans were elicited by a cutaneous shock to the index finger or with a ramp displacement of the finger that stretched the first dorsal interosseous muscle. A somatosensory stimulus was presented while a subject maintained a steady posture of the metacarpophalangeal joint or during a rapid voluntary abduction of the index finger. Both activities were performed against a constant opposing load of 0.15 Nm or without a load. SEPs were recorded over the postcentral arm area, together with the electromyogram of the first dorsal interosseous muscle. The major components of the SEPs were P56, N130, P174, N232 and P294. The amplitudes of all components were diminished substantially during active movement. A constant load opposing postural fixation or active movement did not influence the SEP amplitude. The amplitude of the P56 component was differentially affected by the shock or ramp stimuli. The findings demonstrate that active movement gates sensory input, while sustained tonic muscular activity with an opposing constant load does not, and that different somesthetic inputs may be processed differently during movement.