title: Maturational changes in the thermoalgesic system in humans from childhood to adulthood revealed by CO(2) laser evoked brain potentials following cutaneous heat stimuli.
abstract: Possible maturational changes in the thermoalgesic system were studied by reaction times (RT) and late (Adelta-fibre) laser evoked potentials (LEPs) following CO(2) laser heat stimulation of the hand in healthy children (n=12) and young adults (n=12). In children (10+/-2 years) LEPs presented a negative-positive complex with maximum amplitude (peak-to-peak 71+/-35 microV) at the vertex and latencies of 248+/-82 and 433+/-104 ms, respectively. As compared to adults (24+/-3 years), children had a significant increased peak-to-peak amplitude (+25.7 microV; P=0.03) although no difference in latencies and topography. Median RT (710 ms) was also significantly increased (+312 ms; P<0.005) in children. A decrease in RT and late LEP amplitude from childhood to adulthood may reflect aspects of maturation in sensory processing of the thermoalgesic system.
authors.affiliation: Université Catholique de Louvain, Faculty of Medicine, Avenue Emmanuel Mounier 53/READ 5375, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium. opsommer@read.ucl.ac.be
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Opsommer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Plaghki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000502:physiology*