Tactile evoked spikes in children.
Tactile evoked spikes (TES) are a well known EEG feature in children. We reviewed our previous studies concerning this phenomenon, with special reference to the influence of sleep and stimulation rate, the relation with middle-long latency somatosensory evoked potentials (MLSEP) and the relation between TES and spontaneous spikes in the same individual. New data were obtained by re-evaluating 566 children with TES, by assessing MLSEP from each finger, in 15 subjects with TES, and by studying MLSEP following posterior tibial nerve stimulation in 12 children with TES. TES appear to be enlarged components of MLSEP which are present in some children aged 4 to 14 years; they tend to increase during NREM sleep and to decrease during REM sleep; Their amplitude decreases at stimulation rates above 3 Hz. TES are associated with an increased risk of epileptic seizures, which usually have a benign prognosis. The possible neurophysiological mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are discussed.
Child Neurology Unit, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy. pasdemar@tin.it
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P
De Marco
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Calzolari
D000293:Adolescent; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*