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Two distinct cervical N13 potentials are evoked by ulnar nerve stimulation
G Zanette1, M Tinazzi, P Manganotti
1Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche e della Visione, Policlinico Borgo Roma, Verona, Italy.
Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology
|March 1, 1995
Summary
Ulnar nerve stimulation reveals two distinct posterior neck N13 potentials, caudal N13 (cN13) and rostral N13 (rN13). This latency difference suggests separate origins in the cervical cord and cuneate nucleus, respectively.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Electrophysiology
- Somatosensory Evoked Potentials
Background:
- The posterior neck N13 potential is crucial for understanding somatosensory pathways.
- Its dual nature and generation sites remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct characteristics of caudal (cN13) and rostral (rN13) posterior neck potentials.
- To determine if latency dissociation exists between cN13 and rN13 upon ulnar nerve stimulation.
Main Methods:
- Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) were recorded in 24 healthy subjects.
- Stimulation was performed on both median and ulnar nerves.
- Anteroposterior and longitudinal bipolar montages were used to localize potentials.
Main Results:
- Ulnar nerve stimulation showed a significantly longer N9-rN13 interpeak latency compared to N9-cN13.
- cN13 potentials were prominent in lower cervical segments, while rN13 potentials localized to upper segments.
- rN13 potentials exhibited similar latency to P13-P14 far-field potentials in a majority of cases.
Conclusions:
- Ulnar nerve stimulation elicits two separate posterior neck N13 potentials.
- Caudal N13 likely originates from dorsal horn interneurons in the lower cervical cord.
- Rostral N13 is suggested to be generated near the cuneate nucleus, contributing to P13-P14 potentials.