Recovery function of short-latency components of the human somatosensory evoked potential

Short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials were studied in 14 normal human subjects with the technique of paired stimuli with different interstimulus intervals. Interstimulus intervals were 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100, 150, and 200 ms. To obtain the response to the second stimulus of the pair, amplitudes of the second responses (R2) were subtracted from those of the first responses (R1) and recovery curves constructed. Results of this study support previous conclusions that P10 is generated in peripheral nerves (brachial plexus), P14 in medial lemniscus, N19 in sensory radiation, and P23 in sensory cortex.