Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP)

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) are recorded from the central nervous system following stimulation of peripheral nerves.

Introduction

Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEPs) are electric signals recorded from the scalp or spine following stimulation to the peripheral nerves. They are time-locked responses, representing the function of the ascending sensory pathways. Early in the 1960s Larson et al. introduced the use of somatosensory evoked potentials to monitor neural structure during neurosurgical procedures (1). Since then SSEP has become one of the earliest and primary tools for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring.

References

Larson SJ, Sances A. Evoked potentials in man: neurosurgical applications. Am J Surg 1966; 111: 857-861.