[Parameters of somatosensory evoked potentials in normal subjects in relation to age and height]

Cortical SEPs by stimulation of median nerve at wrist (159 measurements; 144 subjects, 63 M - 81 F; mean age 39.7, range 11-70; mean height 162.5, range 134-190) and cortical SEPs by stimulation of posterior tibial nerve at ankle (100 measurements; 81 subjects, 37 M - 44 F; mean age 34.7, range 11-60; mean height 161.1, range 134-180 cm) have been performed. The latencies of N1 of median SEPs and of N1 and P1 of tibial SEPs significantly increase with the height of subjects. The statistical evaluation of latency values of each subject normalized at a height of 165 cm show a little increase of latency according to the age of the subjects; this increase is quite evident for the latency of P1 of tibial SEP.