Abnormal SEP recovery amongst multimodal electrophysiological studies to indicate cortical dysfunction in PME
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Updated: Nov 9, 2026
Multi-electrode Array Recordings of Human Epileptic Postoperative Cortical Tissue
Published on: October 26, 2014
Atakan Aydoğan1, Nermin Görkem Şirin1, Ayşe Deniz Elmalı1
1Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Istanbul, Turkey.
Background:
Progressive myoclonic epilepsies (PMEs) are rare neurodegenerative disorders characterized by cortical hyperexcitability and progressive neurological deterioration. We aimed to identify electrophysiological markers of cortical dysfunction using multimodal neurophysiological assessment.
Methods:
Seventeen adult PME patients underwent clinical evaluation and video-EEG recording. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP), SEP recovery function and surround inhibition, blink reflex, and motor evoked potentials (MEP) were assessed in 11 patients and compared with 11 matched healthy controls.
Results:
Generalized epileptiform discharges were observed in all patients. SEP recordings demonstrated increased N20/P25 amplitudes and prolonged P14, N18, and P25 latencies. SEP recovery showed marked attenuation at the shortest interstimulus interval followed by rapid amplitude recovery. Surround inhibition was preserved. Blink reflex studies revealed prolonged R2 latencies and increased amplitudes. MEP parameters did not differ significantly between groups.
Conclusions:
PME is associated with abnormal SEP recovery dynamics and giant SEPs, consistent with impaired somatosensory inhibitory processing. Blink reflex abnormalities suggest additional subcortical involvement, whereas corticospinal excitability appears relatively preserved.
