Anodal sensory nerve action potentials: From physiological understanding to potential clinical applicability.
Low-intensity electrical stimuli of digital nerves may generate a double peak potential (DPp), composed of a cathodal (caAP) and an anodal (anAP) potential in orthodromic recordings.



We studied the effects on caAP and anAP of stimuli of variable intensity, duration, and frequency. We also applied a conditioning stimulus to study potential differences in recovery time.



The anAP was obtained in 33 of 40 healthy subjects (82.5%) and 4 of 20 patients with various types of sensory neuropathies (20%). Changes in stimulus duration and intensity had reciprocal effects on the amplitude of the anAP and the caAP. There were significant differences in recovery time between caAP and anAP after a conditioning stimulus.



The caAP and anAP are 2 interdependent waveforms generated by different effects of the same stimulus over axons at the verge of depolarization. Muscle Nerve 53: 897-905, 2016.
Neurosurgery Department, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal.
Joao
J
Leote
Neurology Department, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal.
Pedro
P
Pereira
EMG Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Christopher
C
Cabib
EMG Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Federica
F
Cipullo
EMG Unit, Neurology Department, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Josep
J
Valls-Sole
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001703:Biophysics; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
anodal potential; axonal membrane excitability; break excitation; sensory nerve action potential; submaximal nerve stimulation