Motor and sensory evoked potentials in progressive supranuclear palsy

Mov Disord. 1991;6(1):49-54. doi: 10.1002/mds.870060109.

Abstract

Motor potentials evoked in the biceps, thenar, and tibialis anterior muscles by electrical stimulation of the scalp and of the spinal regions were recorded in 12 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and in a control group. Abnormalities of central motor conduction for at least one muscle were present in five patients (41.7%), characterized by a long illness duration. The central sensory conduction time of the median nerve was normal, but five patients showed a depressed frontal N30 wave. These findings support the possible occurrence of functional damage to the corticospinal tracts and to the supplementary motor area in PSP.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Dominance, Cerebral / physiology
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Electromyography
  • Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / physiology*
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Median Nerve / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Neurons / physiology*
  • Muscles / innervation*
  • Pyramidal Tracts / physiopathology*
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Spinal Cord / physiopathology
  • Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / diagnosis
  • Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / physiopathology*
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology