Abstract
Cold-evoked potentials (CEPs) constitute a novel electrophysiological tool to assess cold-specific alterations in somatosensory function. As an important step towards the clinical implementation of CEPs as a diagnostic tool, we evaluated the feasibility and reliability of CEPs in response to rapid cooling of the skin (−300 °C/s) and different stimulation sites in young and elderly healthy individuals. Time-locked electroencephalographic responses were recorded from at vertex in fifteen young (20–40 years) and sixteen elderly (50–70 years), individuals in response to 15 rapid cold stimuli (−300 °C/s) applied to the skin of the hand dorsum, palm, and foot dorsum. High CEP proportions were shown for young individuals at all sites (hand dorsum/palm: 100% and foot: 79%) and elderly individuals after stimulation of the hand dorsum (81%) and palm (63%), but not the foot (44%). Depending on the age group and stimulation site, test–retest reliability was “poor” to “substantial” for N2P2 amplitudes and N2 latencies. Rapid cooling of the skin enables the recording of reliable CEPs in young individuals. In elderly individuals, CEP recordings were only robust after stimulation of the hand, but particularly challenging after stimulation of the foot. Further improvements in stimulation paradigms are warranted to introduce CEPs for clinical diagnostics.
Highlights
Cold-evoked potentials (CEPs) constitute a novel electrophysiological tool to assess cold-specific alterations in somatosensory function
The present study demonstrated improved feasibility and reliability of CEPs in response to rapid cooling of the skin (−300 °C/s) in healthy young individuals
CEPs could be recorded in all young individuals after stimulation of the hand, which was not achieved in our previous study using a slower cooling ramp (−20 °C/s)[20]
Summary
Cold-evoked potentials (CEPs) constitute a novel electrophysiological tool to assess cold-specific alterations in somatosensory function. A novel device integrated with micro-Peltier elements has been developed through which rapid cooling of the skin can be achieved (i.e., up to 300 °C/s)[22] These methodological advances in terms of cold stimulators have fostered the ability to record robust CEPs with a high signal-to-noise ratio and latencies comparable to the conduction velocity of A-delta fibers in healthy young individuals[22–24]. This cold stimulator was useful to detect cold specific damage to small fibers and within central pathways in two patients with cold hypoesthesia and allodynia, respectively[23]. We hypothesized that rapid cooling of the skin would lead to improved acquisition and reliable CEPs for all age groups and stimulation areas
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