ABC Medical Center > Procedures > Evoked potentials

What is evoked potentials?

4 May 2021

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Evoked potentials tests were created to analyze brain responses to various types of stimuli, among which there are three modalities according to the nature of the stimulus:

  • Auditory: they evaluate the nerves that are in the ear and reach the brain stem, which is the connection between the spinal cord and the brain, responsible for controlling the heart and respiratory rate, alertness, and brain communication with the body. 
  • Visual: it is in charge of analyzing the optic nerves that connect with the visual cortex which is in charge of vision. 
  • Somatosensory: analyzes the wrist and ankle nerves that connect to the somatosensory cortex, responsible for the sense of touch. 

Evoked potential tests are safe, painless, and have no potential risks or side effects. Only, if the patient is sedated, it will take a few hours for the effect of the drugs to wear off. 

The tests’ duration ranges from 40 minutes to an hour each, so if several are going to be performed, you must consider that you will remain in the hospital for several hours. 

At the Neurophysiology Clinic we are prepared to offer you the most advanced neurophysiological tests to diagnose the various pathologies that affect your nervous system, which represent a quantitative, reproducible, and generally non-invasive measure that enriches the neurological examination, providing an interaction platform and support in the diagnosis and treatment of neurologically affected patients.

The tests we perform include all the tools of a comprehensive neurophysiology service:

  • Electroencephalogram.
  • Electromyography.
  • Evoked potentials.
  • Outpatient polysomnography.
  • Hospital polysomnography.
  • Transcranial doppler.
  • Neuro-otology tests.
  • Otoacoustic emissions.
  • Intraoperative monitoring.
  • Magnetic stimulation.

Related centers and departments:

  • Neurophysiology Clinic
  • Neurology Center
  • High Specialty Surgery Center
  • Radiology and Molecular Imaging
  • Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes: 

  • nibbot.com.mx
  • mayoclinic.org
  • neurología.com
  • msdmanuals.com
  • medigraphic.com
  • Alvero GLM, Gaya VJA, Miret FC, et al. Respuestas evocadas auditivas obtenidas mediante un estímulo chirp de banda ancha. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd. 2019;38(2):136-152.
  • Venegas-Andrade A, Tello-Valdés CA, Iglesias-Leboreiro J, et al. Alteraciones auditivas en neonatos pretérmino a su egreso de una unidad de cuidados intensivos neonatales. Acta Pediatr Mex. 2020;41(1):1-10.
  • Jiménez MJD, Perusquía OE, De León AA, et al. Evaluación neurofisiológica y estructural del comportamiento de la vía visual en pacientes con esclerosis múltiple. Acta Med. 2020;18(3):268-273. doi:10.35366/95404. 
  • Torres GLM, Pardo RGG, Muñiz CJL. Utilidad de los potenciales evocados auditivos (PEA) como indicador electrofisiológico de exposición a sustancias ototóxicas. Revista Cubana de Salud y Trabajo. 2017;18(3):35-38.

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    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.