Experimental Ascending Evoked Potentials in Spinal Cord Injury

The basic waveform of the conducted epidural SEP of cat in ascending volleys consisted of two major components, namely N1 and N2, with mean conduction velocity of 74ms and 55ms, respectively. Significant amplitude attenuation of N1 and N2, and considerable latency delay of N1 rather than N2 were demonstrated in ventral epidural recordings. Latency delay of the spinal cord field potentials recorded from the dorsal part of the spinal cord occurred even if there was no latency delay in the ventral part, in lOOg/cm contusion injury. There was no distinct relationship between severity of the injury and appearance of positive-going killed end potentials in acute contusion injury of the spinal cord.