Cortical somatosensory evoked potentials from lumbosacral dermatomes: airpuff versus electrical stimulation

Cortical potentials were elicited by airpuff stimulation of the L5 and S1 dermatome in a group of 24 healthy volunteers. The results were compared with the SEPs obtained by conventional electrical stimulation. Both stimulus modalities produce stable and good reproducible cortical responses of similar waveform. The most stable second negative peak, labeled N2, was used in this study. Mean latencies (in msec) were: N2 L5 air = 67.1 +/- 3.3, N2 L5 electr. = 55.7 +/- 3.7 N2 S1 air = 67.2 +/- 3.9, and N2 S1 electr. = 55.1 +/- 2.9 The maximum R/L difference (mean + 3 SD) was 5.7 msec, 5.9 msec, 7.2 msec and 7.2 msec for respectively N2 L5 air, N2 L5 electrical, N2 S1 air and N2 S1 electrical. Single regression analysis showed a significant influence of height, but not age upon all latencies. Multiple regression analysis with height and age as independent variables showed a significant influence of height and age together upon the latencies of the electrical SEP (both L5 and S1). For the airpuff SEP only height was significant. Gender had no effect on the cortical components. The amplitude of peak N2 after electrical stimulation of the S1 dermatome was significant higher than after airpuff stimulation, 2.9 and 1.7 microvolt respectively. For the L5 dermatome both types of stimuli produced responses of nearly equal amplitude, 2.5 and 2.1 microvolt for electrical and airpuff stimulation respectively. Airpuff SEPs may provide a good alternative for electrical stimulation.