title: Recovery cycle of the cerebral neocortex: preliminary observations in epileptic patients.
abstract: The recovery cycle of the amplitude of the potential evoked in the cerebral neocortex by paired electrical stimuli of the underlying white matter was studied in 5 epileptic patients with intracerebral electrodes chronically implanted stereotactically. A reproducible pattern was apparent for the late components of the potential (i.e., the peak-to-peak amplitude between the second and the third peak, with an average peak latency of 14 and 35 ms, respectively). There was an early period of facilitation (5-10 ms interstimulus interval) followed by a period of relative or absolute depression (20-100 ms) with recovery at an interstimulus interval of about 150 ms. The recovery function of the early components of the potential (i.e., the peak-to-peak amplitude between the first and the second peak, with an average peak latency of 6 and 14 ms, respectively) was variable; recovery was reached at about 150 ms. The responsiveness seemed less in the most epileptogenic cortical areas.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurosurgery, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pallini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palestini
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000503:physiopathology; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013997:Time Factors