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The effect of temporal dispersion on compound action potential area in human peripheral nerve
Author(s) -
Olney Richard K.,
Budingen Hans J.,
Miller Robert G.
Publication year - 1987
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.880100809
Subject(s) - compound muscle action potential , elbow , ulnar nerve , wrist , medicine , median nerve , stimulation , action potential , peripheral , neurophysiology , anatomy , nerve conduction velocity , peripheral nerve stimulation , electrophysiology , psychiatry
In 32 ulnar nerves of healthy volunteers, the mean area of the compound muscle action potential recorded over abductor digiti minimi was reduced by 7.4% when comparing above‐elbow with wrist stimulation and by 1.9% when comparing above‐elbow with below‐elbow stimulation. In 20 of these nerves, the mean area of the compound nerve action potential (CNAP) recorded over the fifth digit was reduced by 36% when comparing above‐elbow with wrist stimulation. Area reduction of the compound action potential, especially of the CNAP, appears to be a characteristic effect of temporal dispersion in peripheral nerve when utilizing the bipolar recording technique routinely employed in clinical neurophysiology. A thorough understanding of the effects caused by temporal dispersion and of their quantitative limits in normal peripheral nerve is important for the proper interpretation of nerve conduction studies.