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Interaction of cathodal and anodal stimulations in nerve conduction studies
Author(s) -
Kanbayashi Takamichi,
Yamauchi Takaharu,
Miyaji Yosuke,
Sonoo Masahiro
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.26467
Subject(s) - stimulation , stimulus (psychology) , wrist , anode , cathode , anatomy , neuroscience , medicine , chemistry , electrode , psychology , psychotherapist
In this work we investigated the interaction of cathodal and anodal stimulations in nerve conduction studies (NCSs). Methods Subjects assessed consisted of 10 healthy volunteers. The ulnar nerve was stimulated at the wrist using 2 bipolar surface electrodes, simulating ordinary NCSs. We were able to independently change the stimulus current value at the distal cathode and the proximal anode. Results The anodal stimulation became more difficult to elicit as the stimulus current at the cathode was increased, whereas the cathodal stimulation became more likely to occur as the stimulus current at the anode was increased. Discussion During bipolar stimulation, the cathodal stimulation suppresses the anodal stimulation, whereas the anodal stimulation assists the cathodal stimulation. This explains the common observation in NCSs that the cathodal stimulation becomes difficult to elicit when the anode is moved away from the nerve. Muscle Nerve 59:713–716, 2019