Silent period. Issue 3 (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kofler, M.
• Is Part Of: Clinical neurophysiology. Volume 127:Issue 3(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: e25
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Electroencephalography -- Periodicals; Electromyography -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2015.11.072
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-2457

Abstract

Abstract : The cutaneous silent period (CSP) is a transient inhibition of ongoing electromyographic activity in hand muscles elicited by high-intensity electrical fingertip stimulation. Its underlying biologic function seems to be a protective reaction to nociceptive stimuli. The reflex pathway is composed of thin-myelinated A-delta afferents, spinal centromedullary circuitry, and thick-myelinated I-a motor efferents. Thus, evaluation of CSP may be employed to detect A-delta dysfunction in patients with axonal or demyelinating polyneuropathy. Data reviewed from the literature indicate that CSP presence, CSP duration, and CSP latencies are differentially affected by small- and large-diameter afferent and efferent fibers. Presence and number of A-delta axons seem to define CSP presence and duration, whereas CSP latencies depend on conduction properties of A-delta fibers; CSP onset latency is further "fine-tuned" by conduction function of motoneurons. CSP parameters do not differentiate between patients with and without neuropathic pain, concurring with the notion that neuropathic pain is not due to mere A-delta fiber loss.